President Jokowi Extends COVID-19 Pandemic Status

President Jokowi-Vice President Ma'ruf Amin/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has extended the disaster status of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

The decision was made based on the Presidential Decree (Keppres) of the Republic of Indonesia Number 24 of 2021 concerning the Determination of the Factual Status of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Indonesia which was set on December 31, 2021.

"Determining the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is a global pandemic according to the World Health Organization's statement, is factually still happening and has not ended in Indonesia," said the presidential decree quoted by Antara, Sunday, January 2.

The status of the COVID-19 pandemic has been in effect since April 13, 2020 based on Presidential Decree No. 12 of 2020 concerning the Determination of Non-Natural Disasters for the Spread of COVID-19 as a National Disaster.

With the status of the pandemic, according to the presidential decree, the government implements policies in the field of state finances and financial system stability based on three legal foundations, namely:

First, Law Number 2 of 2020 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2020 concerning State Financial Policy and Financial System Stability for Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic and/or In Facing Threats That Endanger the National Economy and/or Stability Financial System into Law;

Second, the law that regulates the state revenue and expenditure budget after going through the legislative process with the DPR RI, including in the context of approving budget allocations and determining the budget deficit limit for handling the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, and after receiving consideration from the DPR;

Third, other related laws and regulations.

In addition, in the context of handling, controlling, and/or preventing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, especially in the health, economic and social sectors, according to the presidential decree, the government can determine the policy mix through the establishment of a funding scheme between the government and business entities engaged in the field of finance. financing of health services and other schemes.

In the presidential decree, the government stated that it had considered the Constitutional Court's Decision Number 37/PUU-XVIII/2020 which emphasized the importance of a statement from the President regarding the factual status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, it was necessary to provide legal certainty regarding the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its decision on October 28, 2021, it was stated that the Constitutional Court decided that the COVID-19 Law (UU Number 2 of 2020) would only apply as long as the status of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been announced as ending by the President and at the latest until the end of the 2nd year since the Law on COVID-19 was enacted.