Welcoming Christmas And New Year's Day, The Government Prepares Measures To Anticipate The Spread Of COVID-19

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy said the government has now prepared a number of steps to anticipate the spread of COVID-19 during Christmas and New Year's Day.

This anticipatory step was taken after holding a coordination meeting with a number of ministries/agencies such as the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, including law enforcement officers.

"We have held a coordination meeting to prepare for the handling of the Christmas and New Year holidays involving all relevant ministries/institutions," said Muhadjir in a press conference broadcast online, Tuesday, December 21.

The first step taken by the government, continued Muhadjir, was by issuing the necessary rules and policies to anticipate the period before and after Christmas and New Year.

"For example, a circular letter from the Minister of Home Affairs will be issued for the implementation and enforcement of PeduliLindung," he said.

Next, the government will hold a Candle Operation which will start on December 24 to January 2, 2022. The implementation of this activity will later be carried out by the Police, TNI, and other law enforcement officers.

"However, on D-7 pre-operation activities have also been carried out as well as later after the 2nd (January, red) namely H+7 post-operation will be carried out, especially by the Police who are in BKO by the TNI and of course the law enforcement officers in each region," he said. .

Furthermore, Muhadjir also said that later there would be a thickening of officers to anticipate movements in the community. Starting from the mall, to tourist attractions will be supervised by officers.

Not only that, the government through the relevant ministries/agencies will also make efforts so that the polymerase chain reaction test results can be released immediately and there is no need to wait long. Thus, travelers from abroad at the land, sea, and air gates do not accumulate.

"Furthermore, the use of the PeduliLindung application will be increased and become the basis for providing sanctions for parties who should use this application in an orderly manner but have not implemented it with discipline," he stressed.

Muhadjir said the public must be aware that the policy was made by the government solely to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Including the new variant that is now available in the country, namely Omicron.

"The government implements these policies to prevent the next wave of COVID-19 transmission. Especially with the emergence of a new understanding, namely Omicron," he concluded.