Minister: Gov’t Manages to Keep Confirmed Cases at Low Level

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan delivers his press statement after a limited meeting on PPKM Evaluation, Monday (12/13). (Photo by: Public Relations/Agung)

COVID-19 response in Indonesia has shown a relatively stable trend, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has said.

“We can see this from the number of COVID-19 cases, which has been kept at a fairly low level. The number of confirmed cases will maintain its downward trend,” the Coordinating Minister said in a press statement after a limited meeting on Evaluation of Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM), Monday (12/13).

Luhut also revealed that the number of confirmed cases and hospitalizations in the islands of Java and Bali shows a decline.

“Based on assessment results on 13 December, there are only 10 regencies / cities at Level 3 in Java-and Bali or 7.8 percent of the total 128 regencies / cities in Java-Bali. There are also 13 regencies / cities that have entered Level 1. However, there are also four regencies / cities that have gone up to Level 2,” he said.

On the occasion, the Coordinating Minister also stated that the new Omicron variant, although it is spreading faster, is indicated to have a low level of severity as reflected by under-controlled hospital care and low mortality rate.

Based on the results of genome-sequencing continuously carried out by Ministry of Health until Monday (12/13), no Omicron case is detected in Indonesia, he said.

The Government, Luhut added, also continues to evaluate quarantine measure for international travelers to ensure that the quarantine is carried out in a disciplined manner.

According to him, one of the policies that will be implemented is to change the PeduliLindungi application status of international travelers to turn black during the quarantine period.

“We will continue to monitor because previously there were violations. There are reports from the public and the President asked us to really check and we have done research on the ground. We are making improvements here and there,” he stated, adding that data from state-owned enterprises Angkasa Pura shows a significant increase of up to two times flights to overseas destinations compared to normal conditions.

For this reason, Luhut added, the Government is imposing a 10-day quarantine for international travelers.

“The Government continues to remind the people to refrain from going abroad for the time being except for a very urgent reason,” Luhut said.

The Coordinating Minister also said that the Government has also increased the capacity of Wisma Atlit Emergency Hospital and quarantine hotels to anticipate the increase in the number of people in quarantine.

The quarantine policy for international travelers, he added, will continue to be evaluated in accordance with the development of the Omicron variant.

The Government also urged the public to continue to increase self-awareness in light of the coming Christmas and New Year holidays, he said. (FID/AIT/ST) (FI/EP)