Following Increase in COVID-19 Cases, President Jokowi: Stay Vigilant

President Jokowi attends a meeting with the Alumni of Pre-Employment Card Beneficiaries in Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), Bogor regency, on Friday (06/17). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made statement following an increase in daily COVID-19 cases in Indonesia in the last few days. Although the country’s positivity rate was still under the standard set by the World Health Organization, President Jokowi stressed that the Government and the public must stay vigilant in facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have said earlier, even long before the case is increasing, not only once, twice nor thrice, to stay vigilant against the Omicron, BA.4, or BA.5 variants,” the President affirmed in his statement after attending the meeting with the Alumni of Pre-Employment Card Beneficiaries in Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), Bogor regency, on Friday (06/17).

The President also expressed hope that the COVID-19 cases will not increase even more hereafter. Therefore, President Jokowi continues to encourage the people to get the third COVID-19 vaccine or the booster as one of the anticipative measures.

“We hope that there will be no more increase, but I think we have already anticipated it by telling all the people to get the booster a month or maybe two months ago,” said the President, adding that the Government has provided COVID-19 vaccines in a large number, so the people can get the third COVID-19 vaccine or the booster immediately.

“The vaccines are already available, tens of millions. Just request it immediately. Today, we want to give the booster, but there are not many people participating,” he stated firmly. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/MAY/AIT) (AW/MUR)