Indonesia Accused Of Neighboring Countries Faking Omicron Data, Luhut Reveals The Facts

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan revealed that the country's success in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has not always been well received. According to him, a neighboring country accused Indonesia of falsifying data on the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 case.

"Seeing Indonesia's ability to overcome Omicron, it makes neighboring countries say we are manipulating information," said Luhut in a written statement, Friday, March 4.

However, Luhut did not mind the accusations. He said that Indonesia's data regarding the hospital occupancy rate or Bad Occupancy Rate (BOR) to the death rate is based on valid facts sourced from the field.

"But we are here to talk about data. Please feel free if you want to see the data we have about graves and hospitals according to the reality on the ground," said Luhut.

Luhut said that Indonesia's success in tackling Omicron could not be separated from the participation of all parties, including the hard work of the COVID-19 Task Force and members of the TNI-Polri in overseeing policies to reduce the number of cases.

He added that the experience of dealing with a spike in cases that overwhelmed health facilities due to the emergence of the Delta variant was also Indonesia's provision when facing Omicron.

"Our success in dealing with the delta variant is the key to success in national economic recovery. All of this should be appreciated because of the cooperation of all parties, especially the National Police, which should be appreciated for successfully carrying out the implementation of emergency PPKM/levels, vaccination, testing, tracing, "he continued.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. Luhut said that currently all parties are still working hard to reduce the number of cases with a focus on BOR and deaths in vulnerable groups such as the elderly and comorbid owners.

Meanwhile, the process of accelerating vaccination continues to be encouraged. Luhut said Indonesia's strategy is currently focused on pursuing dose two in districts and cities that have not yet reached the target.

“All of this requires the role of the National Police who have been successful in vaccination. For this reason, currently we need to pursue accelerated doses of two and boosters," said Luhut.

Seeing the condition of the national COVID-19 case which began to slop. Policy relaxation will be carried out, especially in areas that depend on the tourism economic sector. In the near future, Bali will soon be considered for reopening before March 14, 2022.

"The downstream process results in an increase in people's welfare and an increase in GDP/capita as well as a decrease in the percentage of poor people in the downstream center," he said.