Day: October 7, 2021

The Papua provincial government immediately reviewed the standard procedures followed for handling COVID-19 among infected athletes, officials, and organizing committee amid the implementation of the 20th National Sports Week (PON) in the province.

“We will also review the situation at sports venues and restrict the entry for spectators,” Assistant for the Economic Affairs and People’s Welfare of the Provincial Secretariat of Papua Muhammad Musaad told Antara here on Thursday.

Musaad accentuated that the number of spectators allowed to enter was only 25 percent of the maximum capacity of the venue.

Furthermore, physical distancing in the arena must be followed in line with the governor’s circular.

“In addition, another important prevention measure is to wear masks,” the provincial secretariat assistant noted.

Musaad noted that in the near future, his side will conduct impromptu inspections at several competition arenas to serve as samples.

“The inspections aim to ensure that the community adheres to health protocols. Thus, we can curb virus transmission,” he remarked.

Musaad called to strengthen the handling of COVID-19 set in Governor of Papua’s circular, so the public would not ignore health protocols due to the euphoria surrounding the XX Papua PON.

Spokesperson for the Provincial COVID-19 Handling Task Force of Papua Silwanus Sumule had earlier informed that 37 positive cases were recorded in the four Papua PON venue clusters as of October 6, 2021, at 20:30 Eastern Indonesia Standard Time.

Some 13 cases were reported in Mimika District, 12 cases in Jayapura City, eight cases in Jayapura District, and four cases in Merauke District.

Source: Antara News

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

People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Bambang Soesatyo has voiced support for the government’s plan to reopen international flights at two airports in the near future.

The two airports are Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali and Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.

“I support the government’s plan which aims to restore the country’s tourism and economy,” Soesatyo said in a written statement issued here on Thursday.

However, he asked the local governments resuming international flights to remain vigilant and enforce strict security and supervision at every entrance to Indonesia, especially international entry through air transportation.

This would anticipate and prevent the spread of possible new COVID-19 variants in Indonesia through transportation serving international routes, he said.

The government must quarantine foreign nationals and Indonesian citizens traveling abroad after they enter Indonesian territory, he added.

The effort is important to prevent new cases of COVID-19 emerging due to international travel, he explained.

Soesatyo also asked the government to prepare regulations or provisions for international travelers that would include task force preparedness, quarantine provisions, health protocols implementation, and proper and accurate COVID-19 testing.

The government and all relevant parties must also remain alert during any easing of existing policies, especially policies related to the reopening of international travel, he affirmed.

“Do not let negligence happen that can again increase the COVID-19 cases in the country,” he said.

Earlier, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir had said that he expected the establishment of a Health Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sanur village, Bali province to revive the province’s tourism sector.

During his meeting with the Bali governor, he also discussed the readiness of state-owned enterprises to support the reopening of international flights to Bali.

“Readiness and vigilance at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport as the main access for tourists have to be properly maintained and improved to provide services with guaranteed standard health protocols,” Thohir remarked. (

Source: Antara News

The implementation of health protocols at the PON rowing venue on Youtefa Bay, Jayapura city, is being carried out in multiple layers.

As observed by Antara on Thursday, COVID-19 Handling Task Force officers are checking all athletes, officials, and spectators at the entrance gate.

People arriving in four-wheeled vehicles are being asked to open their windows and wear masks. The officers are not allowing visitors not wearing masks inside the venue.

In addition, the spectators are being asked to bring their vaccination cards.

The officers are also reminding visitors who have only received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to complete their vaccinations according to the schedule written on the card.

Meanwhile, inside the venue, officers are walking around the spectator tribune and athlete quarters, reminding everyone not to take off masks when not competing.

Deputy secretary general of the Indonesia Rowing Sports Association, Brata Tryana Hardjosubroto, said that the association would never tire of urging the public to wear masks, keep their distance, and wash their hands at the venue.

“We always remind the people through the loudspeakers about the importance of health protocols,” he informed.

He admitted that a number of athletes, officials, and spectators have been caught taking off their masks in their enthusiasm to encourage competing athletes.

Hence, Hardjosubroto urged all parties to be aware and continue implementing the health protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmission so that the races can run safely and smoothly.

“We must not feel tired of reminding each other as the supporters are excessively euphoric. Do not let the venue become a COVID-19 cluster,” he emphasized.

Source: Antara News

The implementation of the health protocols at the Harapan Village Aquatic Arena is going well, deputy head of the Health Protocol Task Force at the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON), Afrial Rosya, has said.

“There is a mask and vaccine booth outside the venue. We are distributing four thousand free masks in the Aquatic Arena today to ensure that all visitors who come adhere to health protocols,” he told Antara at the Harapan Village Aquatic Arena, Jayapura district on Thursday.

In addition, both the audience and the organizing committee have consistently practiced social distancing, he noted.

Thus, the implementation of health protocols has been running optimally at the venue, he remarked.

“We have agreed to limit the audience to 25 percent of the maximum capacity of the venue. The committee has done well. The attempt must be done consistently to prevent any new COVID-19 case at the XX Papua PON,” he emphasized.

The COVID-19 Task Force has been routinely inspecting every competition and arena in the four clusters of the national sporting event — Jayapura city and district, Mimika district, as well as Merauke district.

At the aquatic arena, the organizing committee has continued to use loudspeakers to remind visitors to obey the health protocols by wearing masks and keeping their distance.

The committee is ensuring spectators sit two seats apart by folding the two unused seats and marking them with crosses, he informed.

Furthermore, outside the arena, a number of officers have been deployed to socialize the health protocols to visitors, he said.

In addition, the spectators are required to bring a COVID-19 vaccine certificate, he added.

All these attempts are aimed at ensuring the safe and smooth implementation of Papua PON XX as well as preventing the national event from becoming a new COVID-19 cluster, Rosya said.

Moreover, a vaccine booth has been set up at the aquatic venue. One of the visitors, Akmal Fauzi, appreciated the committee’s attempts to curb the transmission of the virus.

“In the aquatic arena, the health protocol has been implemented well. There is an inspection at the entrance. While at the venue, the situation is in order as the spectators wear masks and keep their distance,” he said.

Source: Antara News