Gov’t Prepared to Tackle COVID-19 Surge: President Jokowi

President Joko Widodo (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

The Government has announced it has taken anticipatory measures to tackle COVID-19 surge.

“This surge has been predicted and anticipated by the Government with our preparation being much better than that of previous years in terms of hospitals, medicines and oxygen, isolation facilities, and health workers. The situation in hospitals is still under control,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said, Thursday (02/03).

The President also urged the public to remain calm.

According to the President, although the Omicron variant has a high transmission rate, the fatality rate is lower than that of Delta variant and it is reflected in the cases of COVID-19 in several countries where the hospital occupancy rate is relatively low.

“It also happens in our country, Indonesia. Although the number of cases has increased significantly, the occupancy rate in hospitals is still under control,” the President said.

The President also said that patients affected by the Omicron variant can also be cured without having to go to hospitals and patients exposed to this variant should carry out self-isolation at home, take medication and multivitamins, and get tested again after five days.

“I have ordered Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as Coordinator for implementation of activity restrictions policy (PPKM) in the islands of Java and Bali and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto as Coordinator for implementation of the PPKM Outside the islands of Java and Bali to immediately evaluate the PPKM levels,” the President said.

President Jokowi also ordered Governors, Regents, Mayors, and regional governments stakeholders, supported by the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to ensure that health protocols are observed by the people and that vaccination drive continues to be carried out and accelerated.

“Finally, I urge the public to remain calm in overcoming new variants of COVID-19. Maintain your self-discipline to observe health protocols and reduce unnecessary activities. For those who have not been vaccinated, please get vaccinated immediately. For those who have been fully vaccinated and are eligible for a booster vaccine, get a booster vaccine immediately,” the President remarked. (TGH/UN) (RI/EP)