Jokowi Asks Minister Of Health To Reach Vaccination Target Of More Than 100 Million Doses By The End Of August

President Jokowi conveys the policy of extending PPKM Java Bali (Presidential Secretariat Youtube)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Menkes) to pursue the target of 100 million doses of vaccine to be injected into the community by the end of August. Currently, a total of 90.5 million doses of vaccine have been injected into the community.

“In the last few days, I have seen that vaccination coverage has also continued to increase and currently 90.5 million have been injected. I ask the Minister of Health, by the end of August we must be able to achieve the injection of more than 100 million doses of vaccine," Jokowi said in a statement on the extension of the PPKM via the Presidential Secretariat Youtube, Monday, August 23.

According to Jokowi, the involvement of the TNI in tracing has contributed to an increase in the close contact ratio. On August 20, 2021, the close contact ratio reached 6.5, a far increase compared to July 31, 2021, which was in position 1.9.

"The improvement in the COVID-19 situation that we currently have must be handled carefully and with full vigilance. The reopening of community activities must still be carried out step by step in line with the increase in prokes, testing, high tracing and wide vaccination coverage, "said Jokowi.

"These things need to be done so that the reopening of community activities does not have an impact on increasing cases," he continued.

In his statement, President Jokowi extended the PPKM in Java and Bali and outside the two islands. But for the Jabodetabek agglomeration area and a number of regencies/cities, the PPKM level dropped to level 3.

"The government has decided that starting from August 24 to August 30, 2021, some regions can be lowered from level 4 to level 3. Java and Bali islands, the agglomeration areas of Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung, Greater Surabaya and several other regency city areas can already be at level 3 starting at level 3. August 24," said Jokowi.