There are some activities and jobs that can not be done virtually, and one of them is the press.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The press should continue to work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by applying strict health protocols, according to Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

"The press' work must continue, so that the public's access to actual, factual, and credible information is always open," Vice President Amin stated at a virtual Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) event "Prayers Open Heaven's Door", Jakarta, Saturday, July 24, 2021.

The existence of the press for the country's sustainability is crucial because it serves as one of the pillars of the nation's democracy, the vice president remarked.

Amin noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, most human activities, right from religious activities to work-related tasks, were conducted virtually to avoid crowds that impact the transmission of the virus.

However, the vice president noted that some activities and jobs could not be done virtually, and one of them was the press.

"Our ways of working and learning have been changing, migrating, transforming, and moving around the digital world. However, some essential jobs have not been fully conducted remotely, including press, journalistic, and media work," the vice president explained.

Related news: Indonesian govt urged to assist media outlets amid COVID-19 pandemic

To support the performance of the press amid the pandemic, Amin stated that the government had encouraged all media workers in Indonesia to participate in vaccination programs.

"The government always encourages the press and media teams to continue to increase their participation in this national vaccination program," he remarked.

As of July 16, 2021, the vice president stated that 22,700 media workers had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 14,385 of them had received the second dose.

With the participation of media workers in the COVID-19 vaccination, Amin is upbeat about the target of herd immunity in Indonesia being achieved soon.

"Of course, we are optimistic that the target for the national vaccination program would soon be realized to build herd immunity and successfully provide vaccinations for at least 70 percent of the total Indonesian population," the vice president stated.
Related news: Coverage of COVID-19 pandemic should be enlightening, comforting: PWI


Translator: Fransiska Ninditya, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
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