Gov’t to Speed Up COVID-19 Vaccination in W. Nusa Tenggara Prior to Mandalika MotoGP
Ahead of the 2022 Indonesia MotoGP in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara province this March, the Indonesian Government continues to accelerate the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination in the surrounding areas around the venue.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that vaccination coverage in Central Lombok regency has reached 87.9 percent for the first dose and 61.1 percent for the second dose. Meanwhile, booster jabs are prepared for 76,718 people.
“West Lombok province has also reached 88 percent for the first dose, 62 percent for the second dose. And, we plan booster shots for 47,000 people. In Mataram City, we have reached 110 percent (for the first dose) because it includes people outside of Mataram City. Meanwhile, the second dose is at 78.6 percent. As many as 158,301 booster shots are also prepared,” Airlangga said in a press statement after a Limited Meeting on Evaluation of Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM) virtually, Monday (01/24).
Based on data from Ministry of Health, as of January, 24 at 18.00 Western Indonesian Time, the vaccination coverage in the province has reached 86.93 percent for the first dose and 57.61 percent for the second dose.
Airlangga also reminded that there are still three provinces in the country with the coverage of the first dose of vaccination below 70 percent, namely the provinces of Papua, West Papua, and Maluku. Data from Ministry of Health, as of January, 24 at 18.00 Western Indonesian Time showed that the coverage of the first dose was only at 29.81 percent in Papua, 55.79 percent in West Papua, and 64.69 percent in Maluku.
On the development of COVID-19 cases outside the islands of Java and Bali, the Coordinating Minister stated that daily and active cases have begun to slightly increase.
“We recorded 82 new cases including 75 cases of local transmission and seven cases of non-local transmissions. We also have three death cases. Meanwhile, today’s active cases are at 2,145 cases or 11.4 percent of the total cases in Indonesia,” he added.
The effective reproduction number (Rt) outside Java-Bali, the Coordinating Minister said, has also increased except for the island of Sumatra.
“In Sumatra, it is still one. It is also one in the islands of Kalimantan and Papua. Meanwhile, it is 0.99 in Maluku islands, 0.99 in Sulawesi island, and 1.01 in Nusa Tenggara islands,” he said, adding that the implementation of PPKM outside Java-Bali will be evaluated on January, 31.
“From the evaluation, we will see the preparedness. Matters related to testing and tracing, we will evaluate them once in two weeks,” he stated.
During his press statement, Airlangga also explained the travel bubble policy between Batam, Bintan, and Singapore. This policy was adopted by the Government to boost tourism in the regions.
“The entry points for the travel bubble are Nongsapura (Ferry Terminal) in Batam and Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal in Bintan,” he said.
The provisions on the travel bubble, he added, were stated in a COVID-19 Task Force Circular.
To visit Batam and Bintan, the travelers from Singapore must be fully vaccinated, must show negative PCR results (maximum 3×24 hours), have visas/other entry permits for non-Singaporean citizens. They must also have insurance of S$30,000 and use PeduliLindungi and BluePass applications.
The Government has also prepared hotels and places that have met CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environment Sustainability) standards. “There is also coordination with the local COVID-19 task forces,” he remarked. (FID/JW/UN) (FI/MUR)