Ministry Of Health: Beware Of The Third Wave Of COVID-19 During Christmas-New Year

Photo archive - Residents pass in front of the mural against Corona on Jalan Wonokromo, Surabaya, East Java (Photo: Moch Asim/Antara)

JAKARTA - All Indonesians are urged to remain vigilant against the threat of a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the 2021 Christmas and 2022 New Year, said an official from the Indonesian Ministry of Health.

"Currently Indonesia is entering a phase where the number of cases of COVID-19 is not increasing", said Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Widyawati, in a written statement received in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Monday, November 29.

Widyawati said community mobilization must be controlled as much as possible so that a spike in cases does not occur. Last July, there were the most deaths from COVID-19 during the pandemic that hit Indonesia.

A total of 32,061 deaths occurred during the period from July 1-29. That number is four times higher than in June 2021 with a total of 7,913 deaths, said Widyawati.

She said the government had imposed mobility restrictions through the Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

"People should not forget the incident in July which caused many deaths due to COVID-19. Obey health protocols, don't let your guard down", she said.

To prevent the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Widyawati, the government has also implemented PPKM Level 3 starting from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022.

According to Widyawati, the effort was made to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19. Don't let a moment's freedom during Christmas and the New Year cause COVID-19 cases to rise again. As a result, it will have a bad impact not only in terms of health, but the economy will not work.

“There are still people who are exposed to COVID-19, even though it is very small. So, keep implementing 3M (wearing masks, washing hands with soap, maintaining distance), and avoiding crowds, and reducing mobility", she said.

The government is also accelerating vaccination activities to increase group immunity. The public is advised not to sort out the types of vaccines, because all types of vaccines provided by the government are the best vaccines.

Widyawati said efforts from the community also played an important role in avoiding the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

"If people care and discipline health protocols, this COVID-19 can be prevented and there will be no third wave", she said.