The State News Agency Antara quotes Professor Dr. I Gusti Ngurag Kade Mahardika – a virologist from Bali’s Udayana University, who says Bali should target 70% of its population for vaccination against COVID-19 to open its doors again to foreign tourists.
Speaking on Saturday, 19 June 2021, Professor Mahardika added: “The 70% vaccination target is clearly for groups at risk aged 18 and above. This is not only for the elderly but also for those groups that are socially active such as college students and high school children.
The leading expert in Bali in the field of virology asserts that with 70% vaccination coverage, new cases of the disease will decline, providing peace of mind to both residents and visitors, as has happened in many European nations.
Speaking at a Forum Peduli Bali discussion in Bali, the Virologist said: “As was the case in England, by vaccinating around 50% of the populace, they were temporarily able to bring the virus under control. As a result, from 70,000 new cases each day in January, the level of new cases has now decreased to 2,000-3,000 per day.”
At the very least, the Professor urged Bali to urgently secure enough vaccine to achieve a 50% inoculation level to demonstrate the efficacy of the current vaccination program underway on the Island.
The Provincial Task Force for the Mitigation of COVID-19 in Bali has recorded that through Friday, 18 June 2021, 1,874,213 people in Bali have received the first dose of coronavirus vaccine, while 706,089 have completed a second dose.
Bali targets to vaccinate 3 million people island-wide to achieve “herd immunity,” or 70% of the Island’s total population of 4.3 million.
Mahardika also recommends that foreign tourists visiting Bali only be allowed entry after receiving the two-injection vaccination treatment against COVID-19. He also said visiting foreign tourists should also undergo a PCR Swab test, discounting rapid antibody tests, rapid antigen tests, or Genose tests as flawed and only 75-80% effective in detecting those infected with the coronavirus.
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