Gov’t to Make 20th National Games Evaluation Results as Guideline for Future Events

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 11 Oktober 2021
Category: News
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President Jokowi inaugurates several venues of the 20th National Games in Papua some time ago. (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat)

The Government will set the evaluation results in the organizing of the 20th National Games (PON) in Papua as the guideline to organize other major events.

“In the ongoing PON, there was no significant spike in cases during the event. The organizing of the PON will be our lessons in organizing other major events,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in a press statement after a limited meeting on the evaluation of the implementation of public activity restrictions (PPKM), Monday (11/10).

Data from Ministry of Health shows that from the beginning of the event until 10 October 2021, the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases during the PON was recorded at 83 cases or 0.84 percent of the 10,066 participants, including athletes, officials, coaches, referees, journalists, committee members, and others.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate was at 1.5 percent of the total people tested and spread across 16 out of 37 sports. The exposed participants came from 20 provinces and the five provinces that contributed to the most cases were the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Central Java, Bali, East Java, and Jambi.

“Our observations show that the occurrence of the COVID-19 transmission most likely happened at the athlete’s accommodation because one room was occupied by about four athletes. And also, when eating, we eat together,” Minister of Health Budi G. Sadikin said, adding that the Government noted this problem and will improve health protocol measures at future major events.

For that reason, the Health Minister added, the Government has determined several measures as a guideline for health protocols in future major events, as follows.

First, the Ministry will ensure that the COVID-19 Task Force in each event is given sufficient authority to be able to implement health protocols.

“Second, this is the President’s directives. It is to ensure that all dormitories or residences for the athletes are maintained so that they are properly observed, both when sleeping and while eating,” he said.

Third, he said, random PCR tests will be carried out for athletes during the competition, so that the identification process is carried out faster.

“Finally, the isolation rooms or the centralized isolation facilities must be ready. So, when someone got exposed, they can be immediately treated there or those who wanted to return home but tested positive can also be treated there,” he said. (TGH/DND/FID/UN) (FI/MUR)               

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