Control Of COVID-19 Becomes Individual Responsibility When Emergency Is Revoked

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Mohammad Syahril said the impact of the revocation of health emergency status in Indonesia would shift government interventions against COVID-19 control to individual responsibilities.

"When the emergency status in Indonesia is revoked, all circumstances including this obligation have shifted to individual communities," Mohammad Syahril said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 9.

He said the responsibilities referred to include financing in the rapid test program, treatment, vaccination, and health protocols.

In the testing process, currently there are COVID-19 rapid test products licensed by the Ministry of Health which can be obtained independently by the community.

"The COVID-19 test, some are independently carried out with antigen and the results are reported through the One Healthy Mobile Application," he said.

A similar impact also applies to the mechanism for financing the treatment of COVID-19 patients to the BPJS Health mechanism, private insurance, and personal fees.

"Financing after the withdrawal of the emergency in Indonesia is included in the current payment mechanism, such as BPJS, private or paid insurance itself, including vaccination. The model is not like now all free," he said.

Syahril, who is also the President Director of RSPI Sulianti Saroso, ensured that the national COVID-19 vaccination would continue through integration into the government's routine programs as a long-term mitigation effort.

The paid COVID-19 vaccine, Syahril said, does not include the rest of the vaccine purchased using government emergency funds whose stock must be spent free of charge.

The obligation to wear a mask after the national emergency is lifted is no longer the obligation of the community to fulfill the requirements for activities, but as a necessity.

"The process of wearing masks and so on, is an individual effort to prevent infectious diseases, not just COVID-19. The use of masks is used for patients and those who are sick with influenza in closed rooms and crowds," he said.

This is because the use of masks is part of an effort to protect the community. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, immediately check yourself at the nearest health care facility.

Syahril said after WHO revoked its global emergency status, all international rules related to restrictions on foreign travelers were no longer enforced. The provision will also be adopted on domestic travel.

Syahril said the Ministry of Health together with ministries across sectors immediately went to President Joko Widodo to provide input regarding the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country which is now under control.

This input will be taken into consideration by the President to revoke Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 11 of 2020 concerning the Determination of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.