Government: Don't Think We're Not Consistent In Handling The Pandemic

JAKARTA - The current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia can be said to be under control. However, the government anticipates a spike in cases during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan opened the opportunity to tighten the rules for community mobility towards the end of the year, although currently a number of activities have only been relaxed.

It is known, daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Java and Bali have decreased by 99 percent from the peak of cases on July 15. Meanwhile, cases outside Java-Bali have decreased by 99.5 percent from their peak on August 6.

However, with plans to tighten a number of activities ahead of Christmas and New Year's Eve while the pandemic is still under control, Luhut asked the public not to assume that the government is inconsistent in implementing PPKM rules.

"Don't my friends think that we are inconsistent. But we are calculating the movement of people and the increase in cases. This is now like science and art. So, deciding this is like a military operation. We will look closely," said Luhut in a virtual press conference, Monday, November 8th.

One of the government's plans is to consider re-implementing the mandatory PCR test requirements for travellers.

Previously, the mandatory PCR requirement had been applied in air travel. However, in the next few days, the government removed this requirement and again allowed travelers to use an antigen test as a condition of travel.

"We will evaluate whether the detention of population mobility will be re-implemented by the implementation of the PCR. We are currently reviewing that," said Luhut.

Furthermore, Luhut said it was possible for the government to extend the duration of the quarantine period for travelers from abroad to 7 days.

At this time, the government has reduced the quarantine period for international travelers to 3 days for those who have been fully vaccinated and 5 days for those who have just been vaccinated with the first dose.

Previously, the quarantine period was valid for 8 days. With the frequent changes to the rules, Luhut asked the public to understand it.

"It's not impossible, later if people come from outside, we can do it, maybe the quarantine will increase to 7 days. This is also possible," said Luhut.

This was revealed by Luhut as the emergence of the COVID-19 AY.4.2 or Delta Plus variant that had been found in neighboring countries.

"Now it's there, it's from England entering Malaysia, the Delta AY4.2 variant, and I think we have to be careful about this," he explained.

Luhut reminded, the behavior of the corona virus also changes according to the mutations that occur. In fact, Luhut said, the Delta Plus variant spreads 15 percent faster than the Delta variant itself. .

"I beg friends outside, don't think this is inconsistent. The government is far from that. We are very consistent. What is inconsistent is the disease," he added.