During his absence, the first echelon meeting at his office on Friday was chaired by Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
"The minister is in good condition. Now, he is in self-isolation. God willing, he will return to work next week. Please pray for him," Head of the Communications, Public Information Service and Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Agung Pribadi noted in a statement here on Friday.
Agung did not elaborate on the reason behind Minister Tasrif undergoing self-isolation. However, he confirmed that Investment Minister Lahadalia was the ad interim minister of energy and mineral resources.
An ad interim minister is one that concurrently holds the position of another minister, who is temporarily absent due to illness or on an overseas trip.
Lahadalia was officially appointed by President Joko Widodo as ad interim minister of energy and mineral resources.
"Today, the ad interim minister of ESDM chaired a meeting with all first echelon officials of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources," Special Staff to the Minister of Investment Tina Talisa remarked.
Based on a letter from the minister of state secretary dated February 3, 2022, President Joko Widodo appointed Investment Minister Lahadalia as ad interim minister of energy and mineral resources, she added.
Meanwhile, government spokesperson for COVID-19 Reisa Broto Asmoro earlier stated that people with no COVID-19 symptoms or only mild symptoms could conduct self-isolation at home for their health recovery.
"People infected with the Omicron variant and having no symptoms can conduct self-isolation,” Asmoro noted in a statement on Friday.
Self-isolation at home has been recommended for patients diagnosed with mild COVID-19 symptoms or no symptoms and those that meet clinical and home requirements.
Related news: Legislator urges Jakarta gov't to increase isolation centers
The spokesperson noted that patients with a maximum age of 45 years and no comorbidities can access telemedicine or other health services and should stay committed to continuing to conduct self-isolation before being allowed to leave.
The requirements for house isolation are to have a separate room or separate floor, the bathroom in the house being separate from that used by the other occupants, and having a pulse oximeter.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had earlier urged ministers to evaluate the level of community activity restrictions (PPKM) across Indonesia amid a spike of the COVID-19 cases in the country.
"I have told the coordinating minister for maritime affairs, as the PPKM coordinator for Java-Bali regions, and the coordinating minister for economy, as the PPKM coordinator for regions outside Java-Bali, to immediately evaluate the PPKM level," he noted in Medan City, North Sumatra Province, on Thursday.
Related news: Tangerang health office readies 296 beds at isolation centers
Translator: Sugiharto P, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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