Minister Of Religion Asks His Staff To Tighten Health Protocols, So An Example Of Suppressing The Spread Of COVID-19

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas asked the ranks of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) to tighten health protocols in anticipation of a significant increase in new cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

"The Ministry of Religion must be an example in implementing health protocols. This is part of our contribution in reducing the rate of exposure to COVID-19 and of course this is part of our humanitarian task," said Minister of Religion Yaqut, quoted by Antara, Sunday, June 20.

The Minister of Religion asked the Ministry of Religion to coordinate with the task force for handling COVID-19 in their respective regions. He also appealed for the scheme of working from the office and from home to be adapted to local conditions.

Anticipating the current increase in cases, he asked that health protocols be applied in a disciplined manner, namely wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining distance, avoiding crowds and reducing mobility.

"Invite local community leaders to jointly tighten the application of health protocols. Invite house of worship administrators to be actively involved in efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19," he said.

He reminded that there was an instruction Number 01 of 2021 regarding the Socialization Movement for the Implementation of Health Protocols (5M). The instructions were addressed to central high school and pratama officials, chancellors/chairmen of state religious universities, heads of provincial and district/municipal MoRA offices, heads of madrasas, heads of KUA, religious instructors, and all civil servants of the Ministry of Religion.

In general, the instruction asks the Ministry of Religion's ASN to be an example in implementing 5M in every activity at the office or outside the office. In addition, ASN must be active in socializing and implementing health protocol discipline within the work unit.

"All previously issued health protocol provisions are still valid. In fact, their implementation must be improved and strengthened through coordination and reporting. Hopefully this endeavor can be carried out optimally and Indonesia will be maintained and soon free from COVID-19," said Yaqut.