The president does not want us to return to the initial situation of the pandemic
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged to not hurry in changing the pandemic status to endemic and to remain heedful of the precautionary aspect, Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Main Expert Abraham Wirotomo stated.

"Regarding the change in the status of the pandemic to endemic, the president emphasized that we do not need to be in a hurry and must pay attention to the precautionary aspect. The president does not want us to return to the initial situation of the pandemic," Wirotomo noted in a written statement here on Wednesday.

Wirotomo noted that all decisions would be made based on scientific data and thorough calculations.

He emphasized that the government had always closely monitored the developments of COVID-19 in Indonesia and in other countries. In addition, the government had involved experts in formulating every policy, especially in determining the status of the pandemic, he stressed.

“If scientific data and expert analysis show that the (pandemic) situation continues to improve, then the restrictions will be more relaxed," he remarked.

Earlier, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had confirmed that the government was readying a strategy to change the status of the COVID-19 pandemic to an endemic phase.

"We also received direction from the president, with input from the coordinating minister regarding the strategy (to shift) from pandemic to endemic. We have prepared the protocol," Sadikin stated.

The minister explained that President Jokowi had called for careful consideration before arriving at a decision by taking into account various approaches from the scientific, health, social, cultural, and economic aspects.

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of March 1, 2022, Indonesia had recorded a total of 5,589,176 COVID-19 cases, 4,901,302 recoveries, and 148,660 deaths.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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