Indonesia Faces The COVID-19 Endemic: Don't Forget Yourself, Potential Dangers Still Threaten

JAKARTA - Starting March 14, 2022, the Government of Indonesia will start testing a no-quarantine policy for foreign travelers in Bali. By referring to a number of data, the government is preparing for the transition from a pandemic to a COVID-19 endemic. However, if the contagion conditions in Bali improve, the policy can be advanced before March 14.

The trend of active cases and the rate of daily addition of cases in Indonesia has shown a gradual decline, confirmed to decline for three consecutive weeks, especially DKI Jakarta, Bali, Banten, Maluku, Papua, and West Nusa Tenggara.

In a limited meeting on the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) chaired by President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin online on Sunday afternoon 27 February 2022, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan explained that the government would review policies that encourage full-dose vaccination coverage to the highest level. People's immunity is high enough to be a precondition to endemic.

The daily cases per population in Indonesia are actually lower than countries that have not imposed quarantine. However, the death rate from COVID-19 in Indonesia is higher. On the other hand, Indonesia's full-dose vaccination rate is still lower than countries that do not require quarantine.

Therefore, Indonesia is still implementing quarantine for foreign travelers (PPLN). However, starting March 1, 2022, the quarantine duration is only three days as long as the PPLN has been vaccinated with the full dose and received a booster dose.

Wiku Adisasmito, Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, in his press conference said that the stipulation for the implementation of the quarantine period had taken into account the benefits of vaccination. The number of viruses that cause COVID-19 from people who have received vaccinations is considered to decrease faster than people who have not been vaccinated.

The government is currently pursuing a 70 percent target for the second dose. Of the 344 million doses of vaccine that have been injected, the coverage of the first dose is 190 million, while the second dose of vaccination is still 143 million.

People who have received a second dose of vaccination three months ago can already receive a booster dose of vaccination. Even though Indonesia is heading towards a change from a pandemic to a COVID-19 endemic, the government will still enforce Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) to keep the spread of the Corona Virus under control.

Bali was chosen to be the pilot site for the no-quarantine policy because the reach of the second dose of vaccination is higher than other provinces. A second dose of vaccination for the elderly and a booster dose are still required. Trials will begin on March 14. The PPLN quarantine requirements are to show proof of hotel payments for at least four days or proof of domicile for Indonesian citizens, have complete or booster doses of vaccination, undergo a PCR test when they arrive (entry PCR test) and wait at the hotel until negative results come out, continue to apply health protocols when leaving. , underwent a PCR test on the third day at their respective hotels, and underwent an antigen swab test every day.

Since international arrivals opened, already 1600 tourists have entered Bali. Most came from Russia, Australia, France, the United States and the Netherlands. As many as 50 percent chose to quarantine in bubble hotels, which so far have increased to 17.

The general quarantine hotel has been added to. In addition, improvements were made to the ordering mechanism through online travel agents, the availability of isolation, airport pick-up, and e-visa convenience.

Quoted from CNBC Indonesia, the former Director of Infectious Diseases of WHO Southeast Asia, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, said that Indonesia can expect cases to decline by the end of February or early March. This is because the trend of transmission of COVID-19 in the world shows the Omicron wave occurs for about two months.

"Maybe February or March will be sloping," said Tjandra. But Tjandra also reminded the government to avoid things that are not controlled, such as crowds during big day celebrations. He gave an example, the case of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in India is increasing due to a number of uncontrolled factors, such as the rise of weddings to religious rituals.