"The government never slacked off in testing. We have learned from other countries where a surge in cases happened again after they decreased testing due to a drop in cases," he said at an online dialogue, accessed from here on Friday.
The government has also continued to encourage and remind the public to remain disciplined in following the health protocols to prevent virus transmission, he added.
Currently, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force is striving to expedite vaccinations, especially among older adults and children, to minimize the risk of their experiencing severe illness or fatality upon contracting the virus, Harmadi said.
Regional governments have a crucial role in monitoring and educating residents to consistently comply with the health protocols, he added.
"With the implementation of public activity restrictions (PPKM) that vary in level, actually all regions know what is allowed during Level 1 (of PPKM), what is not allowed. So, too during Level 2. Also, the local government is the one who knows exactly how the community responds to the easing of restrictions on public activities," he observed.
The first COVID-19 infection was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of November 12, 2021, at least 4,249,758 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country, while 4,096,664 people have recovered, and 143,608 people have succumbed to the deadly virus.
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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
