IDI: If December-January 2022 COVID-19 Cases Slope, We Are Ready Towards Endemic

JAKARTA - The Chairperson of the Elected Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI) Dr. Adib Khumaidi assessed that Indonesia is ready to enter an endemic status if the addition of new cases in December 2021 and January 2022 remains sloping as it is today.

Adib at the Merdeka Barat 9 Forum event which was monitored online in Jakarta, Tuesday, said that currently Indonesia must be aware of data on the addition of new cases in November and December 2021 to January 2022.

According to him, if the data for new cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia remains sloping until January 2022, this will be good news. "If December to January tends to slop, we are ready to enter an endemic condition. But at this time we still have to be on alert," Adib said, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, November 2.

On the other hand, if from November to December there is an increase in new positive cases, Adib said that all parties must prepare for the worst.

"We can see in November and December, whether there is an increase or not. If there is an upward trend, we must prepare in December and January," he explained.

Adib hopes that screening and tests in close contact tracing will continue to be carried out so that the COVID-19 condition in Indonesia can continue to be closely monitored. In addition, said Adib, the vaccination program must also be intensified to achieve immunity to the virus.

Currently, more than 120 million people have been vaccinated against the first dose of COVID-19, 74 million have been vaccinated against the second dose, and 1.1 million have received the third dose of booster vaccine.

Meanwhile, the addition of new cases of COVID-19 has consistently been below 1,000 people per day since October 15, 2021. New cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia below 1,000 were last experienced by Indonesia on June 22, 2020, namely 954 cases.