Good News Minister Of Health Reveals Indonesia's Pandemic Condition Is Better Than Neighboring Countries

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin. (doc of Public Relations Secretariat)

Jakarta - Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, said the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia was getting better. In fact, he said, it is relatively better than neighboring countries.

"Indonesia is one of the countries that are relatively far better than other countries, including our neighboring countries", he said in a press statement at the Limited PPKM (Community Activity Restrictions) Evaluation Meeting which was followed online in Jakarta, Monday, April 4.

Nevertheless, he said, the government would remain cautious and always observe global developments regarding the new variant of COVID-19.

"The government realizes that a high spike in cases always occurs with new variants, so we always monitor the new variants", he said.

He conveyed that the current spike in cases in Europe and China was caused by a new variant, namely Omicron BA.2. This variant has also entered Indonesia and has become the dominant variant.

"We are lucky with the condition of the Indonesian people's immunity which is quite high so that this new variant does not cause a spike in cases in Indonesia", he said.

With the condition of high community immunity, he said, the government is optimistic that people can carry out activities more freely.

Based on the results of the antibody serological survey of the Indonesian population against the SARS-CoV-2 virus conducted in November-December 2021, as many as 86.6 percent of the Indonesian population have antibodies against COVID-19.

This means that 86.6 percent of the Indonesian population has immunity against COVID-19 that month. However, along with the COVID-19 vaccination, the number of people who have immunity to COVID-19 will increase.

In the midst of high community immunity, he conveyed that the government allowed people to go home on Eid Al-Fitr 1443 Hijrah. "The government feels confident that we can carry out activities more freely", he said.

In addition, he continued, the implementation of this year's homecoming also follows the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the public is allowed to return to enjoy the month of Ramadan and Eid homecoming.