I believe that through synergy in villages and intensive coordination, COVID-19 prevention and mitigation in villages in 2022 can proceed well.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar urged villagers to tighten the implementation of health protocols to prevent exposure to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

In a written statement on Tuesday, the minister called for consistent implementation of health protocols and stringent monitoring of visitors.

"The village task force and village government should monitor visiting and departing residents," he elaborated.

Omicron was detected through local transmission in Jakarta and Surabaya, and precautionary measures should be taken against its potential spread in villages, he noted.


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Iskandar invited all elements of villages to intensify the Micro Public Activity Restriction (PPKM) by implementing stringent health protocols and optimizing the function of COVID-19 Response Village Volunteers in the villages.

The minister has projected the number of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant to peak in mid-February or the start of March in 2022.

Villagers are requested to remain calm, to not panic, and always be wary.

The government has readied several mitigatory steps, such as expediting administration of the booster vaccine, tightening health protocols, and only allowing fully vaccinated people to access public spaces.

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"For this, I expect the Pedulilindungi application to be used in villages with tourism destinations due to the high mobility rate," Iskandar remarked.

"I believe that through synergy in villages and intensive coordination, COVID-19 prevention and mitigation in villages in 2022 can proceed well," he stated.

The ministry will continue to push for expediting vaccination in villages, he noted.

He also expects creative innovations in villages to expedite the administration of the complete vaccination dosage in accordance with the set target.


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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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