Gov’t Launches COVID-19 Tracing Apps

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto delivers a press statement after a Plenary Cabinet Session, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (3/2). (Photo by: PR/Jay)

In a bid to boost 3T (testing, tracing, and treatment) efforts, the Indonesian Government has launched PeduliLindungi application to help track COVID-19 tracing digitally.

“President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will issue a Presidential Instruction on the PeduliLindungi program so that it can be used effectively to digitally monitor those exposed to COVID-19, so that we can trace their mobility and those who are potentially exposed,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in a press statement after a Plenary Cabinet Session on the Handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Follow-up on the Vaccination Program, Wednesday (3/2), Jakarta.

Ministry of Health, Airlangga continued, will also deploy more tracing staff by involving the village supervisory non-commissioned personnel (Babinsa) and public order officers (Babinkamtibmas).

President Jokowi, Airlangga said, has also ordered the acceleration in the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program to create herd immunity.

The vaccination, the Minister further said, to be carried out by the Government is based on data by considering areas with a high risk of transmission. “Dense zones, high density areas, high mobility, and high interaction are also considered, also related to activities at economic centers,” he added.

Ministry of Health, Airlangga said, will strive to make improvements in order to accelerate the implementation of the program which targets 181.5 million Indonesians. “We aim to achieve herd immunity within a year,” he said.

Minister of Health Regulation on mutual cooperation vaccination will also be issued, which will stipulate rapid antigen tests as the Covid-19 initial screening because we know that it costs lower than PCR test, the Coordinating Minister said. (TGH/UN) (FI/MUR)