Jokowi Asks Minister Of Health Budi To Discuss With WHO About Pandemic Status

JAKARTA - Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin received an order from President Joko Widodo to consult with the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus regarding the status of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The president asked me to consult with the Director General of WHO. (The president also) said that if there were local policies regarding the reduction in tightening of health protocols (health protocols, ed.) it could be done," Budi told the media crew in the Jakarta Presidential Palace, Monday, October 3, as reported by Antara.

With regard to the status of the pandemic, the Minister of Health reminded that it is still in the hands of the WHO authorized to state when it can be officially revoked.

"Especially regarding the pandemic because this is the world's nature, later WHO will give the timing when," he said.

"The pandemic at WHO has a public health emergency of international concern. It will usually be revoked when it is inaugurated," Budi added.

The Minister of Health had answered reporters' questions regarding the plan to announce that people are no longer required to wear masks depending on President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) decision.

Earlier, Monday morning, President Jokowi had said there was a possibility that in the near future the Indonesian government would declare the COVID-19 pandemic over.

"The pandemic has indeed begun to subside. Maybe soon we will declare that the pandemic is over," said the President while attending the launch of the Inclusive Partnership Movement for MSMEs to Rise Classes in Jakarta.

A number of countries in the world have taken steps to lift various tightening health protocols that indirectly mark the shift in the status of the COVID-19 pandemic to endemic in their region.

United States President Joe Biden even stated that "the pandemic has ended" in an interview session of Program 60 Minutes on September 18, 2022.

In Indonesia, based on the latest data from the Ministry of Health on Sunday (2/10) there were an increase of 1,322 positive cases of COVID-19 and nationally active cases 17,434