PB IDI: Indonesia Doesn't Need To Rush To Decide COVID-19 Endemic Phase

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI) Mohammad Adib Khumaidi said Indonesia does not need to rush to decide the status of the COVID-19 endemic.

“The language I think is appropriate is that we don't have to be in a hurry like in America. But, we have to see and judge from our condition," Adib said as reported by ANTARA, Monday, September 26.

He emphasized that the World Health Organization (WHO) has the authority to declare the COVID-19 pandemic over. He also reminded that each country has different capabilities and conditions.

According to Adib, there are a number of indicators that must be the basis for Indonesia to fulfill, such as indicators on active cases, positive test results, surveillance, including the most important, namely the achievement of booster vaccines.

"Special booster vaccines are for all people, yes, not only for certain groups, including later the second booster vaccine target. These are indicators that must be used as the basis for us to declare a policy, whether it is a policy related to masks, PCR examinations, antigen tests, we must start from the basics of the previous indicators," said Adib.

Responding to reports that said the availability of booster vaccines was scarce in a number of areas, Adib said his party had submitted this issue to the Ministry of Health and it would be followed up immediately.

Adib said that his party also always coordinates with the COVID-19 Handling Task Force and the government in overcoming the COVID-19 problem.

"At a time when the public response is still high for booster vaccination, please ensure this availability can really be guaranteed because there is an availability (vaccine) that needs distribution," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday (20/9), President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had also stated that the government was in no hurry to declare that the COVID-19 pandemic was over in Indonesia. He reminded the Indonesian people to be careful and stay alert.

On Wednesday (14/9), WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic to be in sight. Even so, he still urged the world community to increase vigilance to contain the spread of the virus.

President of the United States (US) Joe Biden also previously said he believed the COVID-19 pandemic was over, although he acknowledged that the US still had problems with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that continued to mutate.