Governor Khofifah Affirms 4 Conditions For People To Remove Masks

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa while giving a speech at the East Java Governor's Office, Jalan Pahlawan Surabaya some time ago. ANTARA/HO-Adpim Bureau of East Java.

SURABAYA - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa emphasized that there are four conditions for people to be allowed to remove masks as an effort to prevent COVID-19 cases.

"We welcome the policy of easing masks, but there are several conditions in the policy and they must be adhered to together," he said at the Grahadi State building in Surabaya, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, May 18.

First, that people are active outside the room or in open areas and are not crowded, then they are allowed to take off their masks.

When carrying out activities in a closed room and in public transportation, people must continue to wear masks.

Next, people who are vulnerable, elderly, comorbid or have congenital diseases, continue to use masks during their activities.

"Finally, people who experience symptoms of coughs and colds, continue to use masks during their activities," said the first female governor in East Java.

Regarding the government's policy on masks, Governor Khofifah views it as a form of adaptation to a new life and is optimistic that the decision will bring a better life in the future.

"Because the case continues to slope, this policy was made. If the direction is to adapt to a new life, but I see it can bring life to be better.

In addition to the easing of the mask policy, the easing of the policy for travellers was also issued.

People who have received two doses of the complete vaccine may travel without performing RT, antigen swab or PCR.

"Alhamdulillah, slowly but surely the flexibility of policies emerges. This is the result of how to control COVID-19 in our respective regions, which is also our role," he said.

Especially for people who have not received the complete vaccine dose, Khofifah invites them to immediately get it at the nearest vaccination location.

"There are many vaccine outlets and they are easily accessible to the public. If two doses are not complete, immediately get the second dose. If not, the booster should also immediately go to the nearest health facility outlet," he said.

"Let's continue to take care of ourselves, our families, and the environment, even though the easing has been issued, we still maintain the standard health protocols," Khofifah added.