The COVID-19 Handling Task Force in Klungkung District is increasing measures to reduce virus transmission.
In addition to the partial lockdown restricting community activity in the region, the Task Force is now requiring rapid-antigen testing prior to wedding and traditional ceremonies in Klungkung.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yaika)
The Health Agency now mandates prior notice of every wedding or religious ceremony yet to take place in order to arrange testing of all attendees.
The head of Klungkung Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Nyoman Suwirta, stated that everyone must first take a rapid antigen test before holding the ceremony.
According to the Task Force, weddings and religious ceremonies cause the highest transmission of COVID-19 infections.
Suwirta added that the active COVID-19 cases in Bungbungan Village have recently surged after residents held wedding ceremonies.
“I will tell all the heads of villages in Klungkung to inform the Health Agency officers if their villagers plan to hold that kind of event so they could be rapid antigen tested first. Weddings are high risk as they usually gather people from at least two different villages,” Suwirta said.
“This method is quite effective in reducing the transmission, as we could see that the cases didn’t spike after the event,” Suwirta added.
He reminds people to continue following prevention protocols such as wearing face masks, hand sanitizing and physical distancing during any ceremony or gathering.
