"The government is very careful. Gradually, social restrictions have been relaxed," Gunawan noted in a written statement here on Wednesday.
The agency head drew attention to a relaxation in the implementation of community activity restrictions (PPKM).
Majority of the activities in level 1 PPKM areas allow 100-percent capacity. Antigen and PCR tests are also no longer mandatory for those who have already received the full dose of vaccination. In addition, the quarantine time after arriving from abroad was reduced to only one day.
"To secure this process, all stages of easing must be conducted in a measurable, science-based manner and always be accompanied by disciplined mitigation efforts," he stated.
Gunawan emphasized that mitigation efforts must start from upstream and involve all elements of the nation, increase the achievement of second and booster doses of vaccination evenly to all regions, and accelerate screening, testing, and tracing.
Moreover, health protocols must be applied strictly by wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining a safe distance to ensure that public spaces are well-ventilated or have good air filters.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, Gunawan remarked that boosting hospital capacity, increasing the number of health workers, and securing the availability of medicines would continue to be improved. "There is a necessity that all elements of the nation adopt new habits in order to create a new life, living side by side with the corona virus," he affirmed.
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Gunawan expressed optimism that everyone would be able to adapt to the mitigation efforts. Some of those efforts even have to become social ethics. For instance, the habit of wearing masks, which must be viewed as a form of responsibility and tolerance, as it protects others from the virus.
"I believe that Indonesia can enter a new normal life well," he stated.
In the meantime, indicators of the pandemic in Indonesia have improved significantly, wherein on Monday, the daily ratio of positive cases based on the number of people tested had fallen to around 4.55 percent, according to the WHO standards, and better than 14.15 percent last month.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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