TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Epidemiologists Association (PAEI) of Papua said that five venues that would be used for the 20th National Sports Week (PON) in Papua are located in Covid-19 red zones. PAEI chairman Hasmi also said that not all cities and regencies in Papua have PCR testing equipment.

"It is important to know the challenges of organizing the PON XX. All venues which I have described are [located] in areas categorized as red zones," Hasmi said in an online discussion on Friday, September 24, 2021.

Hasmi did not say the names of the venues. However, on September 5 mentioned that four cities/regencies that will hold the games were at high risks of Covid-19 transmission. They are Jayapura Regency, Jayapura City, Merauke Regency, and Mimika Regency.

Hasmi said that as of this week, the positivity rate in Papua had declined to 1.42 percent. Before that, it was always above 15 percent.

"The weekly ratio of tests per 1,000 population has also improved to 5.7 per 1,000 population," he said.

Additionally, Hasmi said that not all districts/cities have PCR test tools. Of the 24 districts with cases of Covid-19, only six or 25 percent have PCR testing equipment, and only 11 have TCM machines.

To date, Hasmi added, 39.45 percent of the population in Papua have received the first doses of vaccines, and 22.3 percent for second doses. "Far from the target to establish herd immunity," he said, which is at least 70 percent.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA