Government Accelerates COVID-19 Vaccination In Papua Ahead Of PON

Istora Papua Bangkit Venue/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The government will accelerate the delivery of COVID-19 vaccination in Papua ahead of the National Sports Week (PON) which will take place from 2-15 October.

Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the acceleration of vaccination was based on the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs (Inmendagri).

"Especially for the 5 regencies/cities, the Jayapura Regency; Jayapura City; Keerom Regency; Merauke; and Mimika have been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs for immediate complete vaccination," Budi said in an online press conference broadcast Monday, August 9.

All vaccination activities in 5 districts/cities in Papua are requested to be completed before September.

"Because of the preparation of PON," he said.

As previously reported, the government will also prioritize vaccines in 45 districts/cities outside Java-Bali. This was done due to the increase in positive cases of COVID-19 over the past few weeks.

In addition, the government also asked the 7 agglomeration regions in Java-Bali to be able to complete up to 70 percent of vaccinations. Budi said, the entire process of the COVID-19 vaccine must be completed by next September.

The Ministry of Health will also increase its testing capability to 300 or even 400 thousand specimens per day to reduce the positivity rate. Next, tracing will also be strengthened, especially now that the implementation has been assisted by the TNI and Polri.