Preventing Omicron Variant, Vice President Ma'ruf Orders Air, Sea And Land Lines To Be Tightened

Vice President (Vice President) KH Ma'ruf Amin. ANTARA/HO-BPMI-Setwapres

JAKARTA - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin asked all security and immigration officers to tighten entry routes at various entrances to Indonesian territory, both air, land, and sea routes to prevent the entry of the new variant of COVID, Omicron.

This was conveyed by the Spokesperson for Vice President Masduki Baidlowi in Jakarta, Friday, December 3. This instruction is always conveyed by Vice President Ma'ruf at every limited meeting with President Joko Widodo and the ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet.

"The vice president always reminds to guard every entrance to the territory of Indonesia, whether it's air gates, sea gates. That must be strictly guarded, and that has been agreed, both by BIN (State Intelligence Agency) as well as the National Police and immigration authorities," said Masduki at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta, as reported by Antara.

The Vice President also warned all his staff to be careful in implementing restrictions related to the government's efforts to restore the national economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, President Joko Widodo asked that mitigation of the Omicron variant should be carried out as early as possible in various regions so as not to interfere with the national economic recovery program.

The President has also ordered all regional police (polda) in border areas to increase vigilance and alertness in anticipating the entry of the Omicron virus variant into Indonesian territory.

"Be careful, I received news this morning that (Omicron) has arrived in Singapore. Primarily, regional police officers related to borders with other countries because those who carry can be foreigners, Caucasians, also from our own citizens. , especially our workers who come back from outside and return to their hometowns," the President said in Bali, Friday.

The Omicron variant virus has been detected in 29 countries. If the variant enters Indonesia, the transmission can be five times faster than the Delta variant.

"Be careful because the effects can be everywhere in the economic (sector) as I said earlier. So, health protocols continue to be conveyed to the public because this pandemic is having an effect, and it has happened in several countries, to the economy, it falls, it can have an impact on the economy to politics, be careful!" said the President.