The COVID-19 Virus Continues To Mutate, Luhut: There's No Time For Us To Debate

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said that the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19, and the new variant that continues to mutate, is still a threat to Indonesia in the future.

"WHO has also announced, in a few days the possibility of a new variant will emerge with a faster transmission rate and a stronger version. Well, we still face threats in the future", he said in a virtual press conference, Monday, July 19.

Therefore, Luhut asked all parties not to spend time arguing. According to him, at this time the most important and urgent thing that needs to be done is to support the government to handle future possibilities.

"We can't spend our time debating here and there. But the important thing is that we work to face the worst possibilities ahead", he said.

In addition, Luhut also appreciated the steps taken by the Ministry of SOEs and the Ministry of Health which had taken several initiatives, one of which was to make the Hajj Dormitory an emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients.

The government has also just inaugurated the Pertamina Jaya Extension Hospital, the Jakarta Hajj Embarkation Dormitory, which has 150 beds in isolation rooms. The hospital with 124 ICUs and HCUs will serve COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms.

"I believe that the extension hospital that was built will be very useful for treating COVID-19 patients and also facing the threat of new mutations from COVID-19", he said.

On the same occasion, SOE Minister, Erick Thohir, said the government and all of its staff will continue to work together to suppress the spread of COVID-19. According to him, the government also received a lot of support from private companies to community leaders.

"This is part of how we show the world. If America can do it, China can do it, Indonesia can't", said Erick.