Luhut Asks Antivaccines To Be Responsible If There Are Deaths Of COVID-19 Cases

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the majority of COVID-19 cases who died at this time had not been vaccinated.

Based on data compiled by the government, of the 356 COVID-19 patients who died when the Omicron variant spread, 69 percent of them had not been fully vaccinated. Then, 44 percent are the elderly group and 42 percent are comorbid.

"The majority of patients who are seriously treated, critically or deceased are the elderly, groups who have severe comorbidities or have not been vaccinated," Luhut said in a virtual press conference, Monday, February 7.

Seeing this condition, Luhut asked no more anti-vaccine groups to incite the public not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine injection.

This is because Luhut considers them indirectly responsible for the deaths in COVID-19 cases that have not been vaccinated.

"I ask those who recommend not vaccinating, you are responsible in your community if someone dies because they are not vaccinated. I ask for it right, because we are talking using data," said Luhut.

On that occasion, Luhut revealed that the trend of increasing COVID-19 cases in Indonesia was increasing very rapidly. However, in general the impact on hospitalization and overall mortality is still relatively small compared to Delta.

However, Luhut asked the public not to panic in the face of this surge in Omicron cases, because the government has taken preparatory steps to deal with the Omicron wave.

"The community can still carry out activities in accordance with the prokes rules and PPKM provisions," said Luhut.