12-12-2023 (JAKARTA) The Port Health Office (KKP) at Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang is intensifying efforts to ward off the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in light of increasing cases in Singapore. This proactive stance is a precautionary measure in anticipation of the year-end holidays, as revealed by Naning Nugrahini, the head of KKP.
Despite not detecting any cases of the coronavirus thus far, the KKP office remains vigilant, ensuring preparedness by establishing health facilities, including clinics, ready to assist passengers displaying Covid-19 symptoms due to heightened passenger movement.
Nugrahini affirmed, “If we find any case, we will send them to the KKP clinic for a doctor’s examination, including an antigen test.”
In a coordinated effort to curb potential COVID-19 transmission, the KKP office is collaborating with a team of doctors to conduct contact tracing and health tests for passengers. The Covid-19 Control Task Force is set to enhance the enforcement of health protocols for passengers, with anticipatory measures during the holiday season encompassing the installation of body thermal scanners and the deployment of KKP officers at every terminal, as outlined by Nugrahini.
Airport passengers are being reminded to adhere to health protocols, including wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and practicing hand hygiene. All airlines are advised to implement these health protocols, reinforcing the collective effort to mitigate the spread of the virus.
According to data from the Health Ministry as of December 6, Indonesia has experienced an increase in Covid-19 cases ranging from 35 to 40, with patient hospitalizations reaching 60 to 131, and deaths rising by 0 to 3. The current surge is predominantly attributed to the Omicron XBB 1.5 subvariant, previously associated with the Covid-19 wave in Europe and the US. Additionally, the EG2 and EG5 subvariants have been identified in some patients.
While the number of current Covid-19 cases is lower than during the peak of the pandemic, when it reached 50,000 to 400,000 per week, the heightened alertness and preventive measures underscore the ongoing challenges posed by the evolving nature of the virus.
