Campaign to Uphold Health Protocols Must Involve All Components of Society: President Jokowi

President Jokowi gives directions to Governors regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and National Economic Recovery (PEN) Program from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province, Tuesday (1/9). (Photo by: Agung/PR)

National campaign in following health protocols must be implemented by all components of society,  according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

The President cited the example of the Government’s campaigns to wear face masks that should also involve community leaders, members of family welfare empowerment (PKK), heads of neighborhood unit (RT) and community unit (RW).

According to the President, the Government is committed to speeding up vaccine testing and vaccine procurement and in the short term Indonesia is competing with other countries to obtain access to vaccines as quickly as possible.

Indonesia has also sealed a commitment of 20 to 30 million doses of vaccines by the end of this year in the form of finished goods, he added.

“Until the end of 2021, we have also received a commitment of approximately 290 million doses of vaccines. I have ordered governors to focus on controlling the spread of COVID19 and to strengthen endurance. We want all people to receive the vaccine,” the President told governors in a briefing on facing the COVID-19 pandemic and the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program convened virtually from Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java Province, Tuesday (1/9).

The Government, he continued, is also developing a vaccine with an Indonesian strain called the Red and White vaccine run by a national consortium involving the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology and universities and research institutions.

“The Red and White vaccine is currently in the stage of producing vaccine seeds and the progress is now around 30 to 40 percent. The vaccine is expected to be clinically tested at the beginning of next year and God willing, it will be ready for production in mid-2021,” he said.

The President also reiterated that before mass vaccination is in place, the governors should take preventive measures in a balanced manner according to the measurements with the data they have.

“If we fail to flatten the COVID-19 curve quickly, reduce fatality rate sharply, and increase recovery rate drastically, uncertainties will continue to prevail,” he said while mentioning that the fatality rate should be maintained so people can feel safe.

The Head of State also stressed the importance of preventing unsafe condition from happening since this will make business world remain stagnant and the country’s economy cannot rebound quickly.

“We should also be grateful that some of positive indicators we’ve seen in the last few days, for example, the purchasing manager index (PMI) that has returned to the 50s or in a normal position,” he said, adding that the figures in industries are also getting better and exports are also growing well.

For this reason, the President called on the Governors to actively remind the public to keep physical distancing, to regularly wash hands, to avoid crowds, and most importantly, to wear a face mask.

“Wearing a face mask, coupled with supervision on the ground and imposition of sanctions on those flouting the rules, is the key before vaccination is in place,” he said. (TGH/EN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas