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View all search resultsPublic must be vigilant against growing noncompliance of health protocols
The coronavirus is still around, regardless of the declining trend in confirmed cases.
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Direct response: Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi (center) speaks to youths who violated the COVID-19 health protocols on Saturday in the East Java provincial capital. (Kompas/Courtesy of Surabaya City Administration)
T
he coronavirus is still around, regardless of the declining trend in confirmed cases. The majority of the public is generally aware of the situation, which is why health protocol compliance remains high, as proven by data on behavioral shift that the COVID-19 handling task force has collected over the last three weeks.
“The average score for wearing masks, on a scale of 1 to 10, reached 8.25 in the last three weeks, while the scores for maintaining distance and handwashing were 8.02,” Sonny B. Harmadi, the head of the COVID-19 task force’s behavioral shift division, said on Sunday.
However, he said that a decline in public compliance with the health protocols was observed alongside a decline in the public activity restrictions (PPKM) level in some regions. Ensuring optimal heath and safety would therefore need strong commitment from the public, given the long fight against the pandemic and the continuing threat of the coronavirus.
Sonny said that his team had observed a growing trend in declining public compliance in several regions from Oct. 3 to 22, with 8.13 percent of all regencies and municipalities cities recording less than 60 percent of mask adherence. On Oct. 22, regions that recorded health protocol noncompliance grew to 10.19 percent. Similarly, the number of districts raising their alert level to “red zone” for mask adherence had increased to 14.62 percent from previously 12.99 percent.
“If this phenomenon continues, then an increase in COVID-19 cases will likely happen,” Sonny said.
He underlined the importance of maintaining public discipline in consistently following the health protocols amid greater community mobility as restrictions were eased in order to prevent a third wave of infections.
“We need to apply the health protocols during high and low [transmission rates]. We need to be consistent about it. Always wear your masks, wash your hands and maintain [safe] distance,” he urged.
Similarly, Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate reiterated his call for the people not to let their guard down during the ongoing pandemic.
“The government has always reminded the people to maintain health protocol discipline and to get vaccinated, as we all want to avoid another increase in the number of infections,” he said.
Johnny also called on regional heads to help monitor health protocol noncompliance on the ground.
“The regional heads must maintain their vigilance [in] ensuring that the people [follow] the health protocols and encouraging them to get vaccinated,” he stressed.
