A strict bubble system is being implemented at the ongoing National Sport Week (PON) XX to contain the spread of COVID-19, chief of the event’s supervisory and steering committee, Major General (ret) Suwarno, has said.
“We are employing a bubble system. They (contingents) have no time to go around, visit recreation sites, and find something,” he said in a webinar on ‘The Preparedness of PON XX Papua to Apply Health Protocols’, accessed from Jakarta on Tuesday.
He said all contingents must have been vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their departure to Papua.
In addition, they also first conducted self-isolation in the province of origin, he added.
“Some of them conducted self isolation, while others were quarantined in certain places. It is KONI (the Indonesian National Sports Committee) that arranged these all,” he said.
Upon their arrival in Papua, they were picked up at the greeting venue and then took antigen swab tests, he informed.
During the course of PON XX, the athletes were only allowed to move their lodgings to competition venues or the other way round, he added.
In their lodgings, their movement was also restricted, Suwarno said. Athletes were not allowed to receive someone from outside the lodgings, except in their interest, as stipulated by their officials and provincial government.
Suwarno said if athletes fall ill, then they will undergo antigen swab tests.
“If they are found reactive (to COVID-19) they are obliged to undergo PCR swab. If the result is positive, they will be isolated and contact tracing will be conducted,” he informed.
Before their return to the province of origin, all the contingents will undergo PCR swab test. “The test is the requirement to board the plane and ensure that they are in good health upon arrival at their homes,” he said.
He further called on provinces to quarantine their respective contingents before allowing them to return to their homes.
The Papua Provincial COVID-19 Preventing and Handling Task Force (SGPP) has confirmed 29 new COVID-19 cases in the four clusters of the National Sports Week (PON) XX, which is being held in Papua from October 2-15, 2021.
The first confirmed COVID-19 case was found in the Timika cluster prior to the opening of the quadrennial multi-sport event.
The 29 people exposed to the coronavirus included athletes, officials ,and members of the event’s organizing committee, spokesperson for the task force, Dr. Silwanus Sumule, told ANTARA on Tuesday night.
He said 13 of the 29 new COVID-19 cases were found in Timika, seven in Jayapura district, six in Jayapura city, and three in Merauke.
On average they showed mild symptoms and no symptoms, he added.
“They all have been vaccinated in their respective region before departing for Papua to join PON XX,” he said.
Because they were vaccinated, they showed no symptoms although they tested positive for coronavirus, he added.
The 29 people are conducting self-isolation in designated places, including floating isolation centers aboard MV Tidar (Jayapura cluster) and MV Sirimau (Merauke cluster), he said.
Meanwhile, chief of the Jayapura City Health Office, Dr. Nyoman Antari, said the six PON XX athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 comprise two from Jakarta, two from North Sumatra, one from East Nusa Tenggara, and one from East Kalimantan.
The PON XX is being held from October 2-15, 2021. At least 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia are participating in the National Games this year. The PON is featuring as many as 37 sports.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially opened the PON at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Sentani, Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday (October 2, 2021). (INE)
Source: Antara News