20th National Games in Papua enforces health protocols
Inforial (The Jakarta Post) - ● Thu, October 7, 2021
The 20th National Games in Papua, which last from Oct. 2 to 15, involve athletes and officials from all provinces.
The pandemic has made ensuring the safety and health of all those taking part in the multisport event a huge challenge.
The government and every stakeholder have made an all-out effort to minimize COVID-19 transmission through various strategies, such as upholding strict health-protocol implementation. Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali said the Papua Games had run smoothly so far.
All competitions have been well organized while the health protocols are properly observed. Multiple parties have been involved in the games monitoring, including the Health Ministry and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). “This has been multi-stakeholder cooperation; all parties have worked together.
The monitoring has been conducted regularly, involving the BNPB chief and the health minister themselves,” Zainudin told a discussion held on Tuesday. Multiple layers of health-protection principles are applied at the Papua Games, and they are carried out according to the Tokyo Olympics’ experience. Like the bubble-to-bubble system, which requires everyone to be vaccinated before entering the venues. Besides, all athletes and officials are subject to regular COVID-19 tests, with antigen tests being the minimum.
The sole purpose of the series of tests, he added, was to provide the maximum protection for all parties, including local residents who have been very enthusiastic about the Papua Games. “The Papua Games have been the most anticipated event by the people of Papua; therefore, we need to provide protection for them,” he said.
He added that the need to maintain health protocols should be treated as part of the new routine, since the end of the pandemic was still unclear. Commenting further on health protection, Papua Games chief organizer Maj. Gen. (ret) Suwarno said that special processes applied for all parties involved in the multisport event.
He said before departure, all athletes had to be vaccinated, undergo PCR tests and isolation in their respective provinces. Upon arrival, the athletes again had to undergo antigen test and to stay in accommodation according to their sports. The athletes are only allowed go from their accommodation to the sporting venues.
Visiting other locations is strictly prohibited, as stipulated by the bubble system. “If an infection is suspected, then he or she must be tested with antigen tests followed by a PCR. If they test positive, they should be sent to an isolation room and the local organizers must immediately conduct tracing to find any close contacts. Full-body contact athletes like wushu athletes or wrestlers should be tested with antigen tests before competing,” Suwarno said. Before going home, all athletes must undergo a PCR test to ensure good health, as well as fulfilling flight requirements.
Once they arrive at their respective provinces, Suwarno expected that the provincial branch of the Indonesia National Sport Committee (KONI) would ensure all athletes isolate for a period to ensure that they did not bring the virus home. “Currently Papua and Maluku are under the level 2 social activity restrictions,” Head of the health management of the national COVID-19 task force, Brig. Gen. (ret) Alexander Ginting, who was at the same event, said. He said locals were advised to prepare health protection equipment before visiting the sporting venues.
The task force has been campaigning for the need to wear masks, wash hands and maintain distance, as well as a testing, tracing and treatment (3T) program, and being vaccinated at least once. “We have also made it clear that if one feels the symptoms, then do not leave home or go to a sporting venue.
Please visit a physician to avoid any transmission,” Alexander added that the organizers obliged all visitors to wear masks during the Papua Games. Up to this date, in his opinion, the health protocols and other technical regulations had been well-observed. This includes the prohibition on group-cheering while watching in venues, a distance-maintenance policy, COVID-19 tests and working with the national COVID-19 task force. “We need to prevent the National Games from becoming an epicentre of COVID-19 contraction,” he said.
Wushu gold medallist Edgar Xavier Marvelo, acknowledged that the athletes were competing in a totally different atmosphere. “We used to only focus on the competition, but right now, we must raise our health priorities due to the pandemic,” he said. Edgar encouraged all junior athletes not to give into the current pandemic situation and keep on practicing. “But it must be done cautiously.
We need to maintain health-protocol discipline and be vaccinated. We all hope that this pandemic will be over soon, and we can then continue with our lives again normally,” he added.
He also expected that the Papua Games would be successful and thus mark the beginning of an increase in people’s activities during the pandemic by prioritizing health protection.
“The pandemic is no longer a barrier to keeping on working and becoming a high achiever.”
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