Jokowi Orders All Hajj Pilgrims To Return To Their Homeland To Get Booster Vaccination

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said President Joko Widodo ordered his staff to carry out a third or booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination for all pilgrims who had just returned to the country.

This he conveyed in the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube show after a limited meeting (ratas) related to the PPKM evaluation led by President Joko Widodo.

"Because there are many pilgrims who have just returned, the President has given instructions for all pilgrims who have just returned and have not been boosted and are asked to wait at the Hajj dormitory, before being picked up by their families, they can be boosted", said Budi, Monday, July 18th.

The Minister of Health revealed that this order was also in line with the booster vaccine policy as a condition for carrying out activities in offices to public spaces, as well as travel.

He explained that the increase in booster vaccination achievements was also aimed at reducing the number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients and preventing the worsening of the condition of people exposed to the Coronavirus.

"The highest deaths are people who have not been vaccinated or who have only been vaccinated once, while those who have been vaccinated twice have significantly decreased the percentage of fatalities or those who die if they are infected. Those who are boosted have greatly decreased the percentage of those who die or are affected", explained Budi.

"Therefore, the President has given directions for expediting booster vaccination. We will ask for some community activities to require booster vaccinations to protect the public. If you are exposed to (exposure to COVID-19), do not enter the hospital and do not die", he continued.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto revealed that currently, the condition of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia continues to increase.

The increase in cases is still happening slowly and has not yet reached its peak. Airlangga said that the majority of the increase in Corona cases occurred on the islands of Java and Bali.

"The highest addition of cases is still in Java-Bali, representing almost 95 percent", said Airlangga.

Meanwhile, Airlangga continued, the condition of the development of COVID-19 outside Java-Bali is still relatively sloping. However, several provinces on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan began to experience an increase in cases.

However, an increase in active cases began to occur in North Sumatra. South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Central Kalimantan.

"The active ones are still in North Sumatra, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Central Kalimantan. Then outside Java-Bali, of course, community transmissions that have started to rise are in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan", said Airlangga.