Jokowi: We Are Starting To Learn To Live With COVID-19

JAKARTA - Experts have predicted that COVID-19 will not disappear from the face of the earth soon. And now is the time for us to learn how to coexist with COVID-19.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said he would start the process of transitioning from a pandemic to an endemic. That's why Jokowi asked the public to be ready to live side by side with the virus.

"We have to start preparing for the transition from pandemic to endemic and also start learning to live together with COVID-19", said Jokowi after seeing the COVID-19 vaccination at SLB (Special School) Negeri 1 Bantul, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, Friday, September 10.

Jokowi also reminded the public not to be overly euphoric and ignore health protocols, especially wearing masks.

"It's important for me to convey that we don't have excessive euphoria, have too much fun, because all of us, the public must be aware that COVID-19 is always watching us, so health protocols must continue to be carried out, especially wearing masks", Jokowi explained.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, explained that during this transition period, the community was able to start their activities by adjusting the level of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in their respective regions.

“The community must also carry out health protocols with discipline and also immediately vaccinate those who have not. Testing, tracing, treatment including centralized isolation must be encouraged so that the identification of potential new cases can be immediately mitigated, "said the Minister of Health.

The Minister of Health said that living together with COVID-19 is a reality that must be faced together.

“After listening to input from epidemiologists who warn that COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon. By the direction of the President to prepare to live with COVID-19, implementing health protocols with discipline and vaccination is the key in controlling COVID-19", said the Minister of Health.