During the extension of the PPKM enforcement, the government should enhance testing, tracing, and treatment for COVID-19 patients
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani had sought a governmental review of the implementation and effectiveness of the community restriction enforcement (PPKM) recently extended until August 9.

She called for continued vigilance to stem the spread of COVID-19 despite the current positive case surge being curbed.

"During the extension of the PPKM enforcement, the government should enhance testing, tracing, and treatment for COVID-19 patients. We should also be vigilant to prevent ourselves from being infected through strict adherence to health protocols," Maharani stated here, Tuesday.

She deemed vigilance, prevention, and strict adherence to health protocols as being indispensable to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

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The House Speaker additionally urged the government to ensure that the vaccination process ran smoothly by ascertaining adequate vaccine supplies and equitable distribution nationwide. Vaccination is deemed paramount to achieving the target of building herd immunity, especially at a time when no medicines were proven effective in treating COVID-19, she remarked.

"What we can do right now is to prevent infections, painful and severe symptoms, and deaths. Vaccination is our current best protection, and the government should ensure its process to achieve our target," Maharani emphasized.


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The government should also ensure equal distribution of healthcare facilities nationwide rather than solely channeling its attention to the provinces of Java and Bali.

"We should not see the recent spike in positive cases in Java and Bali in regions outside these provinces with less adequate healthcare facilities," she stressed.

She also urged the government to ensure prompt fulfilment of benefits and necessities for healthcare workers currently working on the frontlines in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.


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Translator: Imam B, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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