Let us hope that the goal to be the first country to be free from COVID-19 can be realizedJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's wish to become the first country to eliminate COVID-19 is quite reasonable, member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) Wenny Haryanto has said.
One of the reasons is that the COVID-19 situation in Indonesia is relatively under control, she said in a statement released here on Wednesday.
The government's policy to prevent the entry of the new Omicron variant is also quite stringent, with foreigners traveling without negative PCR test results being asked to return home, she noted.
"Based on how the number of COVID-19 cases is on the decline, and how the Omicron has not yet emerged, I would say that the situation is quite under control," she said.
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"Let us hope that the goal to be the first country to be free from COVID-19 can be realized," she remarked.
As of Tuesday (December 7, 2021), the number of active COVID-19 cases in Indonesia stands at 5,466, she said.
It has been more than a month and the addition of cases has consistently been under 500, while the recovery rate is rising, she added.
Meanwhile, the government has continued to carry out the national vaccination program to build herd immunity, she said.
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As of Tuesday, more than 143 million people have received the first vaccine dose and more than 99 million have received the second dose, she noted.
According to Haryanto, people should diligently apply the 5Ms -- wearing a mask, maintaining distance, avoiding crowds, reducing mobility, and washing hands.
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Awareness of implementing the health protocols will help free the nation of the pandemic, she said.
"I worry that the people will start to relax," she remarked.
Especially since former Minister of Health, Siti Fadilah Supari, has said that Omicron is not dangerous, she said adding, she was concerned that this would cause people to become negligent.
In addition to the 5M health protocols, the government's policy to restrict entry should be obeyed by officers on the field, he said.
"Preventing foreigners who do not fulfill the requirement from entering Indonesia is also important," he affirmed.
COVID-19 vaccinations should also be continued till people in every region of Indonesia have been immunized, he opined.
"If 70 percent of the people have been vaccinated, then herd immunity will automatically be achieved," he elaborated.
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Translator: Boyke Ledy W, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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