Vice President Emphasizes Strict Screening From Abroad To Indonesia

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin emphasized the importance of strict screening of Indonesian citizens (WNI) and foreign nationals (WNA) who entered Indonesia in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

The screening aims to minimize the gap against the potential entry of the COVID-19 variant into Indonesia, said the Vice President at a Limited Meeting on the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) in Jakarta, Monday, November 1.

"International travel health protocols, such as adjusting the time of quarantine and provisions regarding PCR for international travelers while still anticipating the risk of transmission from other countries", said Ma'ruf Amin while chairing a limited meeting (ratas) via video conference from the Vice President's official residence in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Monday, November 1.

In addition, the Vice President appealed to the public to implement mitigation against the potential third wave of COVID-19 in Indonesia. This mitigation, he continued, must be strengthened by carrying out testing, tracking, and maintenance or 3T (testing, tracing, treatment) for the entire community.

"What we have achieved we need to maintain. For that I think we must continue to strengthen first about testing, tracing, then isolation, treatment, and vaccination", he said.

Regarding vaccination, the Vice President hopes that the acceleration of providing COVID-19 vaccines to people in various regions will soon be realized.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK), Muhadjir Effendy, said the government appealed to all elements of society to remain vigilant with the transmission of COVID-19.

"Although the reduction in the transmission of COVID-19 is good, we must continue to be vigilant. Health protocols are maintained to prevent transmission", Muhadjir said after attending the meeting as quoted on the Presidential Secretariat's Youtube account.

The government continues to encourage the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination to the public, which is targeted by December 2021 to reach 291.6 million people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The vaccination target for December 2021 is 291.6 million people, of which 80.9 percent for the first dose and 59.1 percent for the second dose", said Muhadjir.