Government Sets Strategies to Handle COVID-19

Social distancing is the fundamental strategy to reduce risks of spreading Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the mitigation of the virus pandemic, according to the Spokesperson for Covid-19 Handling Achmad Yurianto.

“Maintain your distance so that virus carried by droplets of a person during coughing, sneezing, and talking will not be transmitted to you. We should maintain spatial distance of at least more than 1 meter,” Yuri added.

In addition, he added, the people must know exactly when they must visit hospitals and get COVID-19 testing. When a person came into contact with COVID-19 patient and shows several symptoms including fever (above 38° C), cough and respiratory problem, he/she must visit the nearest health facility to consult with the doctor. The doctor will perform several examinations including nasal swab procedure to detect COVID-19.

Those who just returned from regions or countries where cases have been found and have several symptoms such as fever, cough, and respiratory problem, must immediately seek the doctor.

In order to control the spread of COVID-19, the Government will conduct a massive rapid test to those who likely come into contact with COVID-19 patients.

“Based on our calculation, the number of population at risk is around 600 to 700 thousand people,” Yuri said adding that the Government will prepare 1 million testing kits.

When someone has tested positive for the virus, activities of the person of the past 14 days will be traced including the location, and anyone whom he/she met. Those came in contact with the patient will be tested.

The massive rapid test uses different method than normal test. In normal test, doctor will perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method by taking sample though nasal swab procedure to detect the virus. On the other hand, massive rapid test uses blood sample to detect the COVID-19. The result will come out after 2 minutes.

The massive rapid test indeed has different sensitivity compared to normal swab test, however, it is the first method to find cases that have potentials of positive patient.

“Thus, when a person is tested positive in the rapid test, he/she will be examined through PCR method to make sure the virus detection since people who are recovered from COVID-19 may have positive result during the test,” he said.

After receiving treatment, the patients are expected to recover as their immunity will build up. COVID-19 is a self-limited disease, meaning that the disease tends to go away on its own as long as we have strong immunity.

On that occasion, Yuri also explained that the Government on Friday (20/3) has received 2,000 rapid test kits to be distributed. Around 100,000 more kits will arrive tomorrow.

“We also have received 10,000 of self-protection equipment (APD), and 15,000 of face masks,” Yuri said adding that the equipment will be distributed to hospitals through public health offices at provincial level. (UN/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany S
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana B