The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has continued to disseminate the application of health protocols in all match arenas of the Papua National Sports Week (PON) XX, an official has said.

“BNPB Centre’s COVID-19 Handling Task Force has participated in stemming the spread, especially in PON XX arenas,” BNPB official Asep Chaerudin informed here on Thursday.

According to Chaerudin, the strengthening of health protocol implementation should be continued on account of the arrival of athletes and officials from various regions, which could create a new cluster and result in an increase in COVID-19 cases in Papua.

Thus, the Central COVID-19 Handling Task Force, along with the task forces of Jayapura city and district, Mimika district, as well as Merauke district, have been edifying the public about the health protocols since before PON XX started, noted.

As part of this awareness raising effort, BNPB has also distributed masks to people, athletes, officials, and spectators at match arenas, Chaerudin informed.

Between September 26 and October 6, 2021, the total number of masks distributed to the four districts and cities holding PON XX reached 1,125,173 pieces, he said.

Jayapura city received 367 thousand masks, Jayapura district 321 thousand masks, Mimika district 188 thousand masks, and Merauke district 249,173 masks, he added.

Chaerudin highlighted that the mask distribution was directly assisted by 3,099 volunteers in the four cities and districts where Papua PON XX is being held.

Earlier, BNPB head Ganip Warsito had said that he believes the handling of COVID-19 during the Papua National Sports Week (PON) XX has been proceeding well.

“So far, I have seen that health protocols are being implemented well. I hope that the President’s aspirations of success and advancement of Papua through its sports will be realized,” Warsito noted in an official statement received here on Thursday.

Source: Antara News