I urge the government to not rush in deciding (to change the) pandemic status to endemic and pay attention to the precautionary aspect, so that the decision that will be taken will not make Indonesia return to the initial situation of the pandemic
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo urged the government to not rush in its decision to change the pandemic status to endemic since an in-depth and comprehensive study is required.

"I urge the government to not rush in deciding (to change the) pandemic status to endemic and pay attention to the precautionary aspect, so that the decision that will be taken will not make Indonesia return to the initial situation of the pandemic," Soesatyo noted in his statement here on Friday.

Soesatyo assessed that the government and experts must thoroughly study the discourse to change the pandemic status. The study needs to be supported by scientific and empirical data as well as expert analysis, which shows that the pandemic situation in Indonesia continues to improve, he added.


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"The government needs to be committed to monitoring in detail developments related to COVID-19 in Indonesia and other countries. In addition, the government needs to continuously make efforts in controlling the pandemic in the country, so that the endemic status can be realized," he stated.

The MPR speaker also drew attention to the increasing number of regions that implement level 4 of public activity restrictions (PPKM): Cilegon City, Sukabumi City, Cirebon City, Tegal City, Salatiga City, Magelang City, and Madiun City.

He urged the government to instruct the local governments and COVID-19 task force of those regions to evaluate the PPKM policy thoroughly.


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Soesatyo called on the governments of those seven regions to be more serious in curbing COVID-19 transmission by strengthening mitigation efforts, such as optimizing tests, tracing, and treatment (3T).

According to the MPR speaker, the regional governments' commitment to implementing policies is deemed necessary, for instance, regarding restrictions on people's mobility.

Moreover, Soesatyo emphasized that regional governments, especially in those seven regions, should accelerate the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations -- the first dose, second dose, and booster dose -- in a bid to achieve community immunity.


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Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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