​​​​​​​We must stay optimistic.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has called for the acceleration of the third COVID-19 dose administration ahead of the Muslim holy month Ramadan, which starts in early April.

"We will welcome Ramadan soon. Thus, we have to ensure that the community has carried out the vaccination properly," he said while reviewing the implementation of vaccinations in 5,214 regions throughout Indonesia virtually and in person at Sleman District Hall, Yogyakarta, on Friday.

Vaccination is one of the attempts to protect the public from the transmission of COVID-19, minimize the severity of the symptoms when people are exposed to the virus, and enhance herd immunity against the virus, he said.

Hence, vaccination is key to curb the transmission of the virus, he continued.

He said he believed that if vaccination is optimized, community activities can run safely and improve the people’s economy.

"Thus, we must cooperate to achieve the vaccination coverage targets," he said.

The administration of complete vaccination to the community is one of the government's strategies for turning the COVID-19 pandemic into an endemic, he pointed out.

A number of conditions are required to transition from a pandemic to an endemic phase, including a high vaccination rate, low death rate, and a low number of COVID-19 cases, he noted.

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Prabowo said that an evaluation will be carried out soon regarding the plan to change the COVID-19 pandemic status into endemic by considering the conditions.

He further said he is optimistic that if all elements collaborate to pursue the fulfillment of the conditions, the strategy to achieve endemicity can be implemented soon.

“We must stay optimistic,” he remarked.

Still, the disciplined implementation of health protocols must continue to be strengthened, he added.

The activities of Muslim people usually increase during Ramadan. In addition, the holy month is followed by the holy day of Eid Al-Fitr, which usually triggers an increase in people’s mobility, he added.

Related news: Indonesia mulls pandemic to endemic shift



Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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