Minister Calls for Vigilance as Global COVID-19 Cases Rise

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi delivering press statement on the arrival of 1.39 million doses of ready-to-use AstraZeneca vaccine at Soekarno Hatta Airport in Tangerang city, Banten province, Saturday (08/05/2021) morning. (Photo: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/Lukas)

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L. P. Marsudi has called the public to remain vigilant against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Citing data from WHO’s epidemiological update on COVID-19 from 26 April to 2 May 2021, the Minister said that the number of global COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks has surpassed that of cases in the first six months of the pandemic.

“The number is very high with over 5.7 million cases per week. This situation is an important reminder for all of us that the virus transmission occurs everywhere. We must remain vigilant,” she told the press while welcoming the arrival of 1.39 million doses of ready-to-use AstraZeneca vaccine at Soekarno Hatta Airport in Tangerang city in Banten province, Saturday (08/05).

The Minister also said that as of Friday (07/05), global positive cases reached over 157 million with over 3.2 million people dead, adding that the region in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including India, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Maldives, East Timor, Myanmar, and Bhutan according to WHO’s terminology, has seen the highest surge in cases, particularly 19 percent from 26 April to 2 May 2021.

“With a spike in the number of new cases, new cases in Southeast Asia take up 47 percent of the global new cases during the period,” she said, while urging everyone to remain disciplined in observing health protocols and to participate the vaccination program held by the Government as a measure to overcome the pandemic.

“Each one of us can play a part to prevent an increase in COVID-19 virus transmission by making the vaccination program a success. It is also important to always observe health protocols. We must never forget it,” she said, adding that by observing health protocols, people can protect themselves as well as others.

“Once again, I would like to appeal to everyone to observe health protocols. Observing health protocols does not only protect ourselves but also other people around us whom we love,” she remarked. (FID/UN) (DH/EP)