Padang (ANTARA) - Health expert from Andalas University (Unand) Padang, Dr. Andani Eka Putra, suggested that there should be restrictions and prohibitions on crowds in an effort to prevent the spread of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in West Sumatra.
"If there are still busy activities, the medical personnel at the health center will difficult to make contact tracing if a patient is positive," he said in Padang, Saturday night.
He conveyed this when perform as a speaker at an online discussion with the theme "Voice of the Ultimate Car: Today's COVID-19 Condition" held by the West Sumatra COVID-19 Guard Group Whatsapp.
He said that to minimize crowds, the first step is, limit the movement of people to enter West Sumatra, especially between provinces, then limiting crowds to parties.
He said that from September to December there will be regional elections that have the potential to create crowds because many people are involved.
"This needs to be regulated strictly so that the COVID protocol can be implemented," he said.
He reminded not to let the regional elections become a source of additional new cases of COVID-19.
Therefore, it needs to conduct education and socialization on how to carry out a safe election and follow health protocols.
According to him, to prevent the regional election becoming a source of additional new cases of COVID-19, all officials related to organizing the elections must understand well the pattern of its spread.
He explained that currently 90 percent of COVID-19 patients in West Sumatra are people without symptoms so they need to be careful.
Therefore, he said, election organizers who interact a lot with people need to understand this and do the control.
On the other hand, he considered the need for strict regulations from stakeholders related to efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in West Sumatra, one of which is making regional regulations.
"This must be carried out optimally even though it is difficult," he said.
Andani gave an example of imposing sanctions for those who do not wear masks, which could have the potential for resistance and commotion, but this efforts must be made to be optimal.
Transleted by: Mutiara Ramadhani
Limit crowds in W Sumatra to prevent COVID-19: Unand Medical expert
Unand Padang health expert, Dr. Andani Eka Putra. (ANTARA /Ikhwan Wahyudi)
