Health Minister: People Must Prepare for Pandemic-to-Endemic Transition

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 4 April 2022
Category: News
Read: 640 Views

President Jokowi chairs the limited cabinet meeting on social activities restriction (PPKM) at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (04/04/2022). (Photo: PR Office of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

Following the improving trend of COVID-19 handling in Indonesia, the Government has decided to ease social activities and to be prepared for the pandemic-to-endemic transition.

According to Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the preparation of the people is an important factor during the transition.

The Minister made the statement in his press statement with Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto after the limited cabinet meeting on the Evaluation of Social Activities Restriction (PPKM) chaired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Monday (04/04/2022), at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

“We hope that the improving COVID-19 condition will prompt the people to realize that they will bear responsibility for their own health related to the pandemic. As long as people are ready and realize what should be done to face this pandemic, it will show that we are ready for this pandemic-to-endemic transition,” he said.

The Minister also urged the people to get vaccinated, be it the primary doses or the booster dose because vaccination rate is one of important factors in the pandemic-to-endemic transition.

Regarding the fact that people are allowed to take part in mudik (returning to their hometowns ahead of Eid al Fitr ) in this year’s Eid al Fitr, Minister of Health reminded that only domestic travelers who have received booster vaccination will not be required to do COVID-19 test.

“Do not forget that those who have not received vaccination or only receive first vaccination should do a PCR test, those who have received second vaccination should do an antigen test, and those who have received booster vaccination do not have to do any test,” he said.

As announced by President Jokowi a few times ago, as the pandemic situation is getting better, the Government has decided to ease the policies on international travelers and allow people to perform tarawih prayer at mosques and to take part in mudik.

On that occasion, Minister of Health also highlighted that the Government remains cautious in facing this pandemic situation, adding that the Government always monitors the existing new variant of COVID-19, including subvariant Omicron BA.2 that triggered a rise in the number of cases in Europe and China.

“This variant has also been found in Indonesia and has turned into a dominant one in Indonesia. Fortunately, due to the immunity rate of Indonesian people which is quite significant, this new variant does not cause a rise in the number of the case in Indonesia,” he remarked. (RF/UN) (AW/EP)

Latest News