President Again Calls For Wearing Masks Outdoors, DPR: The Pandemic Is Not Over, Booster Vaccines Become A Strategy

President Jokowi/DOK BPMI Setpres via ANTARA

JAKARTA - The government has again tightened the application of health protocols. President Joko Widodo also asked the public to return to wearing masks even though they were outside, even though some time ago they had allowed residents to remove masks in open spaces.

Member of House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IX from the PDIP Faction, Rahmad Handoyo, assessed that the recommendation to use masks outdoors is appropriate because there is still a high risk of contracting COVID-19. Especially for the elderly and people who have comorbidities.

"What the president said is in line with the government's policy in this case is the gas and brake policy. When the situation starts to get pretty good, relaxations for economic life and social activities I think are reasonable", Rahmad told reporters, Monday, July 11.

The Central Java legislator then highlighted the achievement of booster vaccination in Indonesia, which is still below 25 percent. "There is a big homework for us together. Enthusiasm and public awareness to run vaccinations in droves, second vaccines and especially boosters are very low", said Rahmad.

According to Rahmad, booster vaccines should be one of the mandatory requirements for using transportation facilities and be a good strategy to increase vaccine achievements.

"I think a strategy is needed to possibly require booster vaccines to be one of the mandatory requirements for transportation infrastructure. I think it's a good strategy", he explained.

Rahmad also reminded the public not to assume the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Vaccination, he said, is an absolute requirement so that COVID-19 can be controlled.

"The pandemic is still dynamic, the pandemic is still volatile and we still don't know when it will end. For that, I think to increase awareness of health protocols, vaccination is one of the absolute prerequisites so that we can control COVID-19", he said.