Ministry Of Health: Sooner Or Later The Endemic Depends On The Community

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) stated that sooner or later Indonesia will enter the endemic phase, depending on how the public reacts to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"When asked when Indonesia can enter an endemic, the answer is it depends on our (attitude)," said the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccination Spokesperson, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, as quoted by Antara, Thursday, May 19.

Nadia said that until today, the Ministry of Health together with experts continue to monitor a number of parameters or indicators of the COVID-19 pandemic to be able to really convince themselves that Indonesia has entered the endemic phase.

A number of indicators that continue to be evaluated are the development of the Policy for Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), the rate of positive cases, the high mortality rate, the occupancy of beds in hospitals (BOR), the 3T protocol (testing, tracing and treatment) and high vaccination coverage.

"The PPKM level must be at level one, community transmission with a low positive rate, the death rate should not be more than one per 100,000 population, the morbidity rate or people hospitalized should not be more than five per 100,000 population, as well as 3T and 3T. high vaccination coverage,” said Nadia.

All of these indicators must be controlled and continue to be at the lowest level of transmission, at least for a period of six months to ensure the pandemic is under control. front.

"That's why we can't say if the parameters have dropped, then Indonesia will be endemic. In fact, don't do it but yes, next month there will be an increase in cases, which in the end we have to reflect again on the existing easing," he said.

Nadia also added that Indonesia's first test this year is to monitor whether or not the rate of cases is controlled after carrying out homecoming activities on Eid al-Fitr in early May 2022.

Although the government sees that the trend of cases continues to be under control, the impact of high mobility by the community must continue to be monitored. Especially with the birth of many new variants of COVID-19 such as BA.4 and BA.5.

"So we have to wait for the response while we increase protection at the community level by vaccinating by pursuing the vaccination target," said Nadia.