Luhut: Avoid Additional COVID-19 Patients On Year-End Holidays

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (Photo: Kemenko Marves)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan asked all parties to suppress the increase in the number of people exposed to COVID-19 during the year-end holiday. One of them is by tightening health protocols.

"There is already a visible trend of increasing the number of people who will travel at the end of the year. This condition must be maintained so as not to increase the number of residents exposed to COVID-19," Luhut said as quoted by Antara, Saturday, December 19.

He said this was after the Indonesia-China Tourism and Investment Forum for 5 Key Super Priority Tourism Destinations. The trend of increasing holidays, he said, was seen in flights at Silangit Airport, North Tapanuli, and especially to Bali.

He acknowledged that the potential for domestic tourists is still large and supports national tourism, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused foreign tourist visits to plummet.

"But everyone must refrain for the benefit of the nation. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupts all aspects, including the economy which reduces people's welfare," said Luhut, while reviewing the Toba Caldera, in North Sumatra.

All people, said Luhut, were asked to carry out the protocol. health such as using masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance.

"It's all for the interests of ourselves, around and the Indonesian nation," he added.

Luhut emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccine for urgent needs is just waiting for approval from related parties.

"The vaccine has arrived, it's just a matter of waiting for its use, which is expected to be done by the end of the year. What is certain is that everyone must stick to health protocols," he said.