Pontianak Launches “Face Mask Operation” to Keep Zero Case Status
›
Pontianak Launches “Face Mask ...
Iklan
Pontianak Launches “Face Mask Operation” to Keep Zero Case Status
The operation has been carried out twice in Pontianak city. The first time it was conducted on Monday last week (7/7/2020).
By
EMANUEL EDI SAPUTRA
·4 minutes read
PONTIANAK, KOMPAS — The West Kalimantan Health Office, in cooperation with members of the military and police as well as members of the local public order agency, launched a special operation in Pontianak city on Sunday morning to ensure people wear face masks while going out in public.
Residents who did not wear masks were immediately asked to undergo a swab test.
The operation has been carried out twice in Pontianak city. The first time it was conducted on Monday last week (7/7/2020). At that time, there were 68 people who did not wear masks and were asked to carry out a swab test.
"Pontianak has obtained a status of zero COVID-19 cases. The status should be maintained. The community must be disciplined in implementing health protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands, and keeping a physical distance,” the head of the West Kalimantan Health Office, Harisson, said Sunday (12/7/2020).
Based on data from the provincial health office since Saturday (11/7/2020), new COVID-19 cases were no longer found in seven regencies/municipalities in the province, namely Pontianak, Kapuas Hulu, North Kayong, Sekadau, Melawi, Sambas and Bengkayang.
The mask operation on Sunday morning was held at Taman Digulis, one of the most popular places in the city to carry out sports activities. According to Harisson, the operation was carried out to remind people to wear their masks even while conducting light sports activities.
"Residents who do not wear masks are asked to undergo a swab test and the samples are sent to the Tanjungpura University Laboratory, Pontianak. As many as 86 people underwent a swab test on Sunday morning," he said.
After undergoing swab tests, residents were educated about the importance of following health protocols in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
On Sunday morning, many residents were found to have carried out sports activities without wearing masks. After undergoing swab tests, residents were educated about the importance of following health protocols in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Based on Kompas monitoring, there were dozens of residents who did not wear masks and were asked to undergo a swab test. Darwis (20), who underwent a swab test on the Sunday morning, said he felt nauseous and felt a little bit of pain in his nose and throat while taking the swab test. "I have a mask at home, but I did not wear it. In the future I will wear a mask,” he said.
The head of the West Kalimantan Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), Golda M. Purba said, his office would continue to monitor the implementation of health protocols in coffee shops, public places and markets as well as malls and sports venues. "Owners of the coffee shops have mostly provided a place to wash hands and the chairs have also been arranged apart from each other," he said.
In fact, the COVID-19 task force had distributed masks to traders in the market, but they do not wear them.
Many residents are still found not wearing masks, especially at markets. In fact, the COVID-19 task force had distributed masks to traders in the market, but they do not wear them. "When the people asked why they did not wear a mask, they mostly said they forgot or it was difficult to breath,” Golda said.
PP Satpol personnel were also assigned to monitor mall entrances. Residents without masks were prohibited from entering. Likewise, residents whose body temperature was higher than 38 degrees Celsius were also not allowed to enter. "Joint patrols with the TNI-Polri and Satpol PP in Pontianak and Kubu Raya are conducted four times a day. The goal is for the public to be disciplined in implementing health protocols,” Golda said.
Not over yet
The head of the Pontianak Health Office, Sidiq Handanu, said that although Pontianak had recorded a zero case status, it did not mean that mitigation efforts in coping with COVID-19 had been finished. The transmission of the disease in the world and in most parts of Indonesia remained high, he added.
For this reason, Sidiq said the community played an important role, as the people’s compliance in following health protocols was very important.
Based on data from the West Kalimantan Health Office, as of Sunday (7/12/2020), there were a total of 347 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province. A total of 315 people (90.78 percent) had recovered, 28 people were undergoing isolation and four had died.