Head Of BNPB: Prokes Remain Strict Even Though "Bubble" Is Deleted

BADUNG - Head of the Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto emphasized that the health protocol (prokes) at the location of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) remained strictly enforced even though the "travel bubble" rule was abolished.

Therefore, Suharyanto is sure that this will not trigger a spike in COVID-19 cases, given the high vaccination rate in Bali.

“The first vaccination was above 100 percent, the second was 96.7 percent, and the booster was above 60 percent. This means that this condition has made us as organizers submit suggestions to the President (Joko Widodo) not to use the bubble system, and he agreed that the implementation of the (GPDRR) this time does not use the bubble system but continues to strictly enforce the process," he said in Badung, Bali, reported by Antara, Tuesday, May 24.

He said that BNPB had previously planned to apply the travel bubble provisions, which means that the movement of event participants is limited to the location and accommodation.

However, because the COVID-19 situation in Indonesia, especially Bali, is sloping down, especially after the Eid holiday, BNPB believes that the restrictions do not need to be implemented.

"After Eid 2022, Indonesia's condition is very good, especially in Bali. For today, the daily cases are between 10-15 cases per day adding positives," said Suharyanto.

He added that in recent times there have been zero deaths.

The head of BNPB also ensured that all participants who entered the location of the event, namely at the Bali Nusa Dua Conference Center (BNDCC), also tested negative for COVID-19.

“The delegates who came to Bali were all carried out by the PCR test from the committee. Before the opening, it was confirmed that all participants who entered the BNDCC were in a negative state," he said.

He said that the various health protocols implemented during the event were an effort to gain the trust of the international community.

"This is also to give confidence to the international community that Indonesia has been very good in handling COVID-19 for 2 years, and we can prove it by holding the GPDRR by opening it up but still working on it. We will all see, masks are still used and as much as possible prevent crowds," he said.

Indonesia hosted the 2022 GPDRR which was attended by dozens of foreign delegates and international organizations. The activity is centered on BNDCC on 25--28 May 2022.