Indonesia Transitions From The Health Emergency Phase Due To COVID-19

JAKARTA - Indonesia has begun to transition from the health emergency phase due to COVID-19 by implementing a long-term mitigation system after the transmission of the disease is under control.

"The revocation of global emergency status means that it is transitioning from an emergency phase to a non-emergency phase. The global community must be ready to coexist with COVID-19," said RI Ministry of Health spokesman Mohammad Syahril, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 9.

In a press conference on the development of COVID-19 response in Indonesia which was followed online, he explained, the revocation of global health emergency status did not mean that COVID-19 would no longer be a health threat because the corona virus that causes the disease could remain in the community for a long time.

He said that the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 5, 2023 revoked global health emergency status based on global parameters that showed a decrease in deaths due to COVID-19, the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and intensive care installations, as well as the level of the residents' immunity.

After the revocation of global health emergency status due to COVID-19, the Indonesian Government is running a long-term mitigation system that integrates prevention and control efforts in routine health programs, both related to surveillance and vaccination.

Syahril said that WHO has set a strengthening of the 10 pillars of response in each country.

The response pillar in question includes coordination of financing planning, risk communication and community empowerment, surveillance, supervision of international entrances, strengthening laboratories and diagnostics for control and prevention of infections, case management and treatment, logistics, strengthening essential health services, as well as vaccines, research, and policies.

WHO also recommends that each country increase national capacity to deal with pandemics or epidemics in the future.

"This means that a new pandemic could occur," said Syahril, who also serves as President Director of RSPI Sulianti Saroso Jakarta.

In addition, WHO recommends integrating the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination into the national routine health program as well as increasing surveillance of respiratory tract diseases.

"Indonesia is also asked to prepare long-term national policies for all health interventions, be it drugs, vaccinations, diagnostic tools, and so on. It must be ensured that they are available," said Syahril.

Each country, he continued, is also recommended to strengthen research on COVID-19 to prepare prevention programs in the future.