Intensify Vaccination Drive as Omicron COVID-19 Variant Spreads Outside Indonesia, President Jokowi Says

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 3 Desember 2021
Category: News
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President Jokowi leads a briefing to the Indonesian National Police’s Head of Regional Units (Kasatwil) at the Candi Ballroom, the Apurva Kempinski Hotel in Badung regency, Bali province (03/12/2021) (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat’s Press, Media, and Information Bureau/Laily Rachev)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Friday (03/12) called on the public to raise awareness on the new variant of COVID-19 Omicron that has spread in several countries in the world, adding that, he also emphasized all ranks of the Indonesian National Defense Force (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to intensify the vaccination drive.

“The threat [of COVID-19] is not over. We may be grateful, we may be proud [of the achievement in handling COVID-19] but we must be aware. The fourth wave of the Omicron variant is a threat. Please, be cautious,” President Jokowi said while delivering his remarks at the Briefing to the Polri’s Heads of Regional Units at Candi Ballroom, the Apurva Kempinski Hotel in Badung regency, Bali province.

On that occasion, the Head of State affirmed that police personnel posted in Regional Police offices in country’s borders to have more awareness on the new variant of COVID-19 Omicron considering the national borders are places of entry and exit point for foreign nationals and Indonesian citizens.

 

The President also appealed to all ranks of TNI and Polri to intensify the vaccination drive, especially in provinces that have low vaccination rate.

According to President Jokowi, as many as 15 provinces with low vaccination rate under 60 percent are including South Sumatera province, West Sumatera province, East Nusa Tenggara province, West Kalimantan province, South Kalimantan province, Riau province, West Sulawesi province, South Sulawesi province, North Maluku province, Southeast Sulawesi province, West Papua province, Maluku province, North Sumatera province, Aceh province, and Papua province.

Furthermore, the Head of State reiterate the importance of strict health protocols implementation, testing, and tracing in all over Indonesia.

“Please be cautious. 17 regencies/cities in eight provinces experienced an uptrend [of the COVID-19 case] in last two orthree weeks. If the case increases, please anticipate it. Even there are tens of cases, we have to anticipate because it will affect the political sector, security and public order sector. It will affect every sector,” he remarked. (Presidential Secretariat/UN) (AP/LW)

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