Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Transportation Office of Jakarta has made it mandatory for crew members and passengers of public transportation to continue to wear masks to prevent COVID-19 transmission amid the transition phase to endemic.

"I ask that this circular be of concern (to us all) and be implemented in the best and responsible manner," Head of the Jakarta Transportation Office Syafrin Liputo stated here on Friday.

On Thursday, January 5, 2023, Head of the Jakarta Transportation Office issued Circular Number e-0002 of 2023 regarding the requirement of wearing masks in public transportation facilities and infrastructure during the transition phase to the endemic.

Apart from the requirement to wear masks, the office also urged operators of public transportation and heads of terminals to ready handwashing facilities with soap or hand sanitizer.

Moreover, they are urged to encourage passengers to use the COVID-19 tracing application, PeduliLindungi, while entering transportation facilities and encourage them to get the booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Liputo, the requirement is in accordance with the Home Affairs Minister's Instruction Number 53 of 2022 regarding COVID-19 Prevention and Handling During the Transition Phase to the Endemic.

President Joko Widodo, on December 30, 2022, announced an end to the public activity restrictions (PPKM) policy that had been enforced to control coronavirus transmission in Indonesia.

Revocation of the policy means that there will be no more restrictions on public activities and mobility, he said.

As of December 27, 2022, Indonesia had recorded only 1.7 COVID-19 cases per 1 million population, with the weekly positivity rate pegged at just 3.35 percent. Indonesia also recorded a bed occupancy rate of 4.79 percent and a fatality rate of 2.39 percent.

The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of January 5, 2023, the nation recorded 6,722,227 COVID-19 cases, 6,552,823 recoveries, and 160,665 deaths.

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Translator: Dewa Ketut, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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