PALANGKA RAYA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. The Public Communications Team of Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Handling Task Force delivered a Press Release regarding the data of handling Covid-19 until Monday (02/08/2021) at 15.00 p.m.

In a statement released today, the Covid-19 Handling Task Force said that the Movement for Mandatory Mask-wearing which was commanded by President Joko Widodo some time ago is a universal call that we can find all over the world. Government Spokesperson for Covid-19 Doctor Reisa Broto Asmoro said, “In the United States and European countries, this call is known as ‘Universal Masking’. It means that everyone must wear a mask.”

The Ambassador for New Habit Adaptation of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia explained that Universal Masking was recommended because it was proven to slow the spread of Covid-19. “The research of Doctor Derek Chu and his colleagues published on June 1, 2020 last year stated that the risk of contracting water splashes or what we know as droplets from other people and entering our mouths or noses decreased by 45% by wearing a cloth mask. If you wear a surgical mask, the risk will decrease to a level of 70%,” explained Doctor Reisa.

In order to fight the Delta variant which is more easily and quickly transmitted, the government has increased efforts to protect everyone from Covid-19 transmission. One of them is by implementing the Restrictions on Community Activity (PPKM) as an effort to reduce mobility and suppress contact between people.

Along with PPKM, the Government of Indonesia also recommends starting the habit of wearing two or double masking. The use of this double mask means combining a surgical mask coated with a cloth mask.

Doctor Reisa also added that research on wearing the cloth mask and medical mask together is also confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the CDC in the United States. The Atlanta-based institute conducted experiments to find ways to increase the effectiveness of wearing medical masks, including wearing the cloth masks over medical masks.

This experiment highlights the importance of maximizing the function of the mask covering the nose and mouth. The results show that wearing a face mask that fits snugly can help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Although medical masks substantially reduce droplets, wearing them more tightly and snugly on the face, without any open spaces, will allow aerosol particles that may be present when in an enclosed space with other people are caught by the cloth mask. The CDC study showed that while medical masks were found to be looser than respirator masks such as N95, the effectiveness of cloth masks and medical procedures could be improved by ensuring that they fit properly, conforming to the contour or shape of the person’s face to prevent air leakage around the edges of the mask.

The CDC study found that wearing a cloth mask over a medical mask or wearing double mask can improve the fit of a medical mask on the face and reduce the exposure to aerosols and small droplet particles that are thought to be major factors in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The CDC also states that until population immunity due to vaccination programs is achieved, Universal Masking is a very effective way to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2. When combined with other protective measures, such as maintaining a safe distance of about two meters from other people in public places, avoiding crowds especially in closed spaces that are not well ventilated, reducing traveling outside the house or reducing mobility, and washing hands frequently to stay clean, then wearing double masks will bring many benefits to reduce the number of daily cases.

However, the difference is that if herd immunity can be achieved with vaccination coverage of more than 70% of the population, Universal Masking must be carried out by everyone without exception. “Universal Masking means that everyone must wear mask,” Doctor Reisa emphasized.

Furthermore, the data of Central Kalimantan Covid-19 was conveyed today, where there were 309 additional Confirmation Cases, namely in Palangka Raya (80 people), Katingan (4 people), East Kotawaringin (28 people), West Kotawaringin (17 people), Lamandau (24 people), Sukamara (8 people), Seruyan (4 people), Pulang Pisau (16 people), Kapuas (53 people), Gunung Mas (18 people), South Barito (27 people), East Barito (3 people), and Murung Raya (27 people), from 34,734 people to 35,043 people.

There were 208 recovered patients, namely in Palangka Raya (54 people), Katingan (5 people), East Kotawaringin (10 people), West Kotawaringin (12 people), Lamandau (7 people), Seruyan (5 people), Pulang Pisau (8 people), Kapuas (57 people), Gunung Mas (33 people), South Barito (3 people), East Barito (12 people), and Murung Raya (2 people), the total is 30,194 people.

Suspected cases have decreased by 71 people, from 175 people to 104 people. There are no additional Probable cases; they remain 104 people. Patients under treatment have increased by 83 people, from 3,619 people to 3,702 people. There were 18 deaths, namely in Palangka Raya (12 people), East Kotawaringin (3 people), West Kotawaringin (1 person), Lamandau (1 person), and Kapuas (1 person), the total is 1,147 people, with a mortality rate (CFR) of 3.3%.

The distribution of Active Cases in District and Village/Sub-district experienced the addition of 3 Districts and 5 Villages/Sub-districts, from 97 Districts (71.32%) to 100 Districts (73.53%) and 347 Villages/ Sub-districts (20.72 %) to 352 Villages/ Sub-districts (21.01%).

The RT Zoning for Active Cases has added by 19 RTs, the Red Zone remains 2 RTs (0.02%), the Orange Zone increased from 72 RTs (0.68%) to 67 RTs (0.63 %), and the Yellow Zone increased  from 1099 RTs (10.41%) to 1123 RTs (10.64%).

For Bed Utilization in Hospitals (BOR), Intensive Beds got an increase in Bed Usage (5.6%), from 61.1% to 66.7%, in which there were 4 Regencies/Municipality with BOR above 50 %, namely Murung Raya, East Kotawaringin, West Kotawaringin, and Palangka Raya, while the Isolation Beds got an increase in Used Beds (4.2%), from 53.0% to 57.2%, in which there were 5 regencies/municipality with BOR above 50%, namely Murung Raya, South Barito, Kapuas, Palangka Raya, and East Kotawaringin.

The achievement of vaccination target, namely for health workers Phase I at 109.35% and Phase II at 103.02%, for Public Service Phase I at 136.22% and Phase II at 76.70%, for Elderly Phase I at 21.86% and Phase II at 14.70%, for General and Vulnerable Groups Phase I at 7.64% and Phase II at 3.10%, as well as for Adolescents Phase I at 0.18% and Phase II at 0.00%. (win/translated by feb)