Luhut Says Indonesia Can Implement The COVID-19 Endemic If It Meets These Criteria

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said Indonesia would no longer be undergoing the COVID-19 pandemic and would move towards an endemic.

Endemic is an epidemic that continues to occur but is limited to a certain area. Unlike the pandemic, which requires special tightening, endemic policies are implemented to return people's lives to normal conditions and treat COVID-19 as an ordinary disease.

However, Luhut admitted that the government would still evaluate the plan to implement the endemic status before starting a transition like other countries.

"We will continue to evaluate the status of the endemic in the future," Luhut said in a virtual press conference, Monday, February 21.

Luhut also revealed indicators that became the basis for implementing the COVID-19 endemic preconditions before finally releasing the PPKM policy which is still in effect today.

These indicators range from the achievement of a high level of community immunity, a low case rate based on WHO indicators, to the adequate response capacity of health facilities and the use of active surveillance.

In addition, he continued, this pre-condition must also occur in a fairly long period of time and be stable or consistent.

"Proposed concepts, criteria and indicators for pandemics to endemic from time to time will continue to be refined with experts and experts in their fields," said Luhut.

Luhut said that the most important way the government and society must take towards the transition from a pandemic to an endemic is to boost the second and booster doses of vaccination for the elderly.

Luhut also encouraged and asked for assistance from local governments and their staff to continue to actively socialize and maximize the number of booster vaccinations for those who already have a third dose of vaccine ticket. months can go directly to the vaccine outlets that have been prepared," he added.