Minister Of Health Affirms That There Has Been No Change In The Policy Of Being Allowed To Take Off Masks Outside The Room

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasized that the government had not revoked the regulation on easing the use of masks. Currently, people are still allowed to take off their masks outside.

"There has been no change in policy regarding masks," Budi said after a limited PPKM meeting at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, Monday, July 4.

Budi said the government still allowed masks to be free in open spaces when COVID-19 cases began to increase again, while masks were still required indoors.

However, the Minister of Health still urges the public to continue to wear masks as protection from the transmission of COVID-19 outdoors where conditions are crowded with many people and when they feel unwell.

"For special circumstances outside, for example, it is very crowded, then many are coughing near us, we ourselves feel unwell, we should use masks. There is no change in masks," he said.

Budi's statement regarding the masks clarifies Vice President Ma'ruf Amin's statement. Previously, Ma'ruf revealed that the government had lifted the policy of easing masks outdoors.

"We will continue to tighten health protocols, especially masks, (when) there is an increase, masks must be worn again. So we will withdraw the leeway until the situation allows us to open again," said Ma'ruf Amin in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara ( NTB), Friday, July 1st.

As is known, Indonesia has experienced an increase in positive cases of COVID-19 by up to 620 percent over the past 28 days. The increase in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has also been experienced by other countries in the world.

Meanwhile, as of July 3, there were 1,514 new positive cases with 16,919 active cases. There is also a total positive case since the beginning of the pandemic until now as many as 6,093,917 cases.