Gov’t Gears Up for Transition from Pandemic to Endemic

President Jokowi accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung visits vaccination drive in State School 1 Bantul, Yogyakarta Regency, Friday (10/9).

The Government has announced it will prepare transition from pandemic to endemic.

According to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, COVID-19 will not disappear and the people must live with it for years to come.

“We have to start preparing for the transition from pandemic to endemic and to start learning to live with COVID-19,” said the President after inspecting the COVID-19 vaccination drive at State Special School 1 in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta, Friday (10/9).

However, the Head of State reminded the public not to be engaged in massive euphoria and ignore the health protocols, especially in terms of wearing a face mask.

“We should not be over-excited because the COVID-19 still exists so health protocols must continue to be observed, especially wearing a face mask,” he said.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that during this transition period, the public can start doing their activities according to the level of public activity restrictions (PPKM) in their respective regions.

“The public must continue to observe health protocols with discipline and get themselves vaccinated. Testing, tracing, and treatment must still be encouraged so that the potential for new cases can be immediately mitigated,” he said.

According to Budi, living together with COVID-19 is a reality we must face together.

“Based on inputs from epidemiologists who warn that COVID-19 will not disappear anytime soon, discipline in implementing health protocols and vaccination are key in controlling COVID-19,” he remarked. (TGH/BPMI/UN) (EST/EP)