UNAIR NEWS – The government’s regulation regarding the Covid-19 handling was better than two years ago. It was mentioned by Epidemiological Biostatistics Expert of The Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Dr Windhu Purnomo dr MS, when UNAIR NEWS interviewed him on Monday, May 23, 2022.

Dr Windhu mentioned that Covid-19 regulation today is always based on sound data or information. It means that the government did not make regulations based on assumptions.

“Regulation carried out by the government from the beginning of Covid-19 to one year of pandemic tended to be based on assumptions. However, it is getting better now because it is based on data,” he said.

Long holidays

Based on the epidemiology data, the handling of an increasing trend of Covid-19 cases is also getting better. Considering the previous years, people were not allowed to go on vacations on holidays.

“Two weeks post-Eid or other long holidays usually followed up with surging COVID-19 cases,” he stated.

Last year, post-Eid and long holidays, added Dr Windhu, Covid-19 cases increased. It happened two to four weeks post-holidays. Today, the trend is different. On Eid holiday 2022, massive population mobility was not followed by case spikes.

“Yes, homecoming is allowed. As long as they have been vaccinated with two doses or already boosted, antigen or swab test is unnecessary. This impacted the number of people who travel far is higher than the pre-pandemic,” he revealed.

Minimal spike in cases

Dr Windhu mentioned that human mobility is impressive. However, after the Eid exodus, there was no significant case spike. Very different to last year, there was a case spike after long holidays.

“Today, it did not happen. It was shown by the low positivity rate indicator (the numbers of people who are tested positive divided by people who are tested for PCR or antigen),” he emphasized.

Author: Ananda Wildhan Wahyu Pratama

Editor: Feri Fenoria