Head Of BIN Reveals Policy Implemented By Indonesia Shows Turning Of A Pandemic Into An Endemic

The TNI health officer injects the Covid-19 vaccine to students at SDN Harapan Mulya 02, Bekasi, West Java, Wednesday (15/12/2021). (Antara/Fakhri Hermansyah)

JAKARTA - Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Budi Gunawan, revealed that currently, several policies implemented in Indonesia are part of the transition phase of the pandemic to endemic.

"The government is very careful. Gradually, social restrictions have been relaxed", he said in a written statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 23.

He explained that the status of the implementation of community activity restrictions (PPKM) was starting to decline. The majority of activities in level 1 PPKM areas may be attended by 100 percent of capacity. Antigen and PCR are no longer mandatory for those who have received the second dose of the vaccine. In addition, the quarantine period upon arrival from abroad has been reduced to only one day.

"For this pre-condition process to take place safely, all stages of easing must be carried out in a measurable, science-based manner, and always accompanied by the discipline of mitigation", he explained, citing Antara.

He emphasized that mitigation must start from upstream and involve all elements of the nation, increase the achievement of second dose and booster vaccinations evenly to all regions, accelerate screening, testing, and tracing.

Then discipline the habit of wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands to ensure that public spaces are ventilated or have good air filters.

While downstream, he said, there will be an increase in hospital capacity, more health workers, as well as securing the availability of medicines. "All elements of the nation will inevitably adopt new habits for the sake of a new life, living side by side with the Coronavirus", he said.

He hopes that all must familiarize themselves with these mitigation habits. Some even have to become social ethics. For example, wearing a mask must be seen as a form of responsibility and tolerance, because it protects others from the virus. "Indonesia can enter a new normal life well", he said.

The pandemic indicators in Indonesia have improved significantly, whereas of Monday, March 21, the daily ratio of positive cases based on the number of people tested managed to drop to the WHO safe standard range of 4.55 percent, when compared to the positivity rate a month ago which was still at 14.15. percent.