Asking The Public To Be Vigilant, Airlangga: The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Not Over Yet And The Virus Is Impossible To Completely Disappear

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto warned the public to remain strictly disciplined in health protocols (prokes) even though the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has decreased. He stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic will not end anytime soon.

"The pandemic has not ended and it is impossible for this virus to disappear completely. We can only control it and the public is asked to remain vigilant," Airlangga said in a virtual press conference, Monday, September 6.

Airlangga said the decline in COVID-19 cases was dynamic. Therefore, the COVID-19 health protocol must continue to be implemented. Moreover, the current decline in cases has not been evenly distributed in all regions in Indonesia.

"Although the number of cases has decreased, this is not evenly distributed and is still dynamic," he said.

In his presentation, Airlangga said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked that acceleration should remain the main focus. This was conveyed by looking at the results of the previous PPKM implementation evaluation.

"Mr. President asked for acceleration of vaccination to be the main focus and also given priority to 5 districts/cities where the PON will be held, for which the Health Office, TNI-Polri need to be deployed," he said.

In addition, Airlangga said that vaccinations in five regencies/cities holding PON were actually better and slightly higher than the national average vaccination. For example, Jayapura City has recorded 51 percent of the first dose of vaccination.

Then, Jayapura Regency 48.39 percent, Mimika 50.6 percent, Merauke 55.58 percent, and Kerom Regency 33.73 percent.

"Active cases have increased but it is indicated that around 81 percent need to be corrected after 21 days," he said.