Minister Of Home Affairs Asks People To Limit Christmas-New Year Activities

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian asked the public to limit activities in the midst of the Christmas and New Year's 2022 celebrations to be aware of the Omicron variant.

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian advised the public to celebrate the Christmas and New Year's 2022 holidays while still implementing strict health protocols, and without crowds.

"During the Christmas (and) new year period, the first strategy is to stick to health protocols, especially wearing masks," said the Minister of Home Affairs, quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 23.

The Minister of Home Affairs also asked that the Christmas and New Year celebrations do not cause crowds that allow the spread of COVID-19.

This was also confirmed by the issuance of the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs (Inmendagri) Number 66 of 2021 which is effective from December 24, 2021 to January 2, 2022.

In the regulation, it contains rules including the celebration of the 2022 New Year to be carried out individually/with family by avoiding crowds.

The entire square was temporarily closed, as well as a ban on parades, New Year's processions, and "old and new year" events, both open and closed, which could potentially cause crowds.

"There were no big crowds, parties, etc., let alone more than 50 people, during the period from December 24 to January 2," he said.

Minister of Home Affairs Tito also said that there would be no fireworks display that would attract crowds of people, nor should the public square be opened.

"Closed, so that we celebrate Christmas and New Year in conditions without excessive crowds and then avoid contagion," said the Minister of Home Affairs.

In addition to efforts to limit community activities during Christmas and New Year, as well as tightening health protocols, the government also continues to accelerate the acceleration of vaccination, especially for areas where vaccination coverage is still relatively low.

This is done as an effort to protect the public from severe symptoms of COVID-19 transmission, including in building herd immunity or group immunity.

"The third is the acceleration of vaccination, so that our society is protected," said the Minister of Home Affairs.

The Minister of Home Affairs also asked community leaders to play a role in suppressing the spread and transmission of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant.

The Minister of Home Affairs views that community leaders play a very important role in encouraging people to vaccinate, implement health protocols, including wearing masks, and comply with government regulations in carrying out Christmas and New Year celebrations.