Luhut Boasts About Handling The Indonesian Pandemic, Becoming A Role Model For Other Countries

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - In the midst of the spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 in Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan boasted that the handling of the pandemic in Indonesia was a role model for other countries.

This he conveyed after undergoing a limited meeting on the evaluation of PPKM led by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace.

Without explaining the comparison of data between countries, Luhut claimed that the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia was not inferior to other countries. In fact, Luhut said that to his knowledge, almost no country has handled the pandemic as efficiently as Indonesia.

"There is almost nothing, that I know of, in the world now (countries) that are as patient as we are in handling COVID-19," said Luhut, Monday, January 3.

Luhut revealed, the government handled the pandemic in an integrated, integrated, holistic manner, accompanied by intensive meetings held from the highest leadership to the bottom.

That's why, he said, what keeps the COVID-19 cases in Indonesia under control even though the Omicron variant has spread to local transmission at this time.

Luhut also claimed that the compliance of the Indonesian people in using masks was better than other countries.

"Why are we better than many other countries, such as India, which is currently experiencing Omicron. I want to convey, from our observations, we are more disciplined in wearing masks than in the United States or in Britain, or anywhere else," he said.

Luhut explained that the key to controlling transmission of the Omicron variant is the issue of discipline in implementing health protocols, including compliance with the use of masks.

"The key for us to see Omicron develop in any world is a matter of discipline. The discipline of wearing masks, the discipline of vaccines, the discipline of washing hands, and so on. So, the key word is discipline," said Luhut.

In dealing with the spread of the Omicron variant which has been transmitted through local transmission in Indonesia, Luhut said the government is more prepared.

Currently, medicines, hospitals, quarantine locations, and health workers have been prepared. Then, vaccinations also continue to be intensified to control the spread of Omicron. "So, we are still not proud, not arrogant, but I want to say we have made the best. People can learn from us maybe see how we handle it," he continued.

Omicron in Indonesia

As of January 3, there have been 152 cases of Omicron in Indonesia. This number puts Indonesia in 40th place out of 132 countries with the most Omicron cases.

The majority of cases are imported cases or brought by foreign travelers who enter Indonesia. Meanwhile, six of these cases were local transmissions with no history of travel from abroad.

Half of detected Omicron cases are asymptomatic and half have mild symptoms. Of that figure, as many as 23 percent or 34 people have recovered and have returned to their respective homes.