It is a local policy from the regional government.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health has yet to hold discussions on the agenda pertaining to the use of COVID-19 vaccine cards as an administrative requirement for people to access public places.

"The Ministry of Health has not yet held any discussions regarding this plan," Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccination spokesperson, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, remarked during a telephonic confirmation in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Nadia clarified that the vaccine card, as an access tool, was only a policy by some market managers in Jakarta that have started to make it mandatory for people to have the card to enter public places.

The policy applies in the Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta, and several shopping centers in the local areas.

She emphasized that the policy only applied in Jakarta as part of the regional autonomy. "It is a local policy from the regional government," she affirmed.

When contacted on a separate occasion by ANTARA, Head of Health Handling of the COVID-19 Task Force Alexander K. Ginting made assurance that the vaccine card policy in Jakarta had not been valid nationally.

However, when queried if the government had a similar plan in future, Ginting called for further accessing the decision.

"It is still a process," he noted.

Related news: COVID-19: Tanah Abang visitors will need to carry vaccine cards

The vaccine card, as an administrative requirement, to access several markets in Jakarta is a policy from the regional public company's city-owned (Pasar Jaya) market operator that necessitates all traders, store employees, and visitors to show the COVID-19 vaccination card if they were looking to enter the market area.

The policy is being applied to lower the potential of COVID-19 transmission among merchants and visitors that interact in traditional and modern markets.

President Director of the Pasar Jaya regional public company, Arief Nasrudin, noted in a written statement, Wednesday, July 28, that the policy was taken into account since the percentage of vaccine recipients in Jakarta was quite high.

"This is based on the fact that the vaccinations have been extensively conducted in Jakarta’s areas," he stated.

Furthermore, Tanah Abang market's manager, Heri Supriyatna, told ANTARA in Jakarta, Monday, July 26, that all traders and visitors to the A, B, F, and G blocks of the Tanah Abang market are required to carry vaccine cards.

In keeping with the level 4 public activity restrictions (PPKM), the Tanah Abang market will operate at 50-percent capacity from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Western Indonesia Time, according to Supriyatna.
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Translator: Andi F, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
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