Day: March 28, 2022

Booster vaccinations are among the mitigation measures that can protect all families from COVID-19 infection during Eid, government spokesperson for COVID-19, Reisa Broto Asmoro, has said.

In accordance with President Joko Widodo’s directives, seconded by the Health Minister on March 23, 2022, incomplete vaccination, or even forgoing booster vaccination can have a negative impact, she said during Siaran Sehat (Health Broadcast), accessed from here on Monday.

According to the results of a survey conducted by the Transportation Research and Development Agency of the Transportation Ministry, 80 million people could potentially travel during Eid this year.

This means that there would be many people gathering with their families or relatives, and therefore, anticipatory steps need to be taken to prevent the risk of serious illness, even death, among people, Asmoro said.

Among the people traveling to their hometowns, there would be many parents and children who might not have been vaccinated. Through the protection offered by the booster vaccination, everyone’s antibodies could be improved optimally.

In addition, it would be much easier for people to travel, because they would no longer need to furnish PCR or rapid antigen test results once they have received the booster vaccine.

Meanwhile, travelers who have received just two doses of the vaccine will still need to submit the results of an antigen test, and travelers who have received just the first dose will need to submit the results of a PCR test.

Booster vaccinations can assist in controlling the COVID-19 situation in Indonesia and keep the trend of positive COVID-19 cases low, Asmoro said.

She further said she expected the public to understand the benefits of booster vaccinations and immediately go to the nearest health facility to get their next vaccine shot, so that everyone can travel to celebrate Eid safely.

“This is part of mitigation; of course, we want to celebrate Eid this year in a good way. Not harming parents, wanting the case (tally) to go down, keep it declining and not rising up again,” she added.

Source: Antara News

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin drew attention to an improvement in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

“Our handling of the pandemic continues to improve. The number of positive confirmed (cases) and daily mortality continues to decline,” Sadikin remarked during a press conference “Dynamics of the Medical Profession” here on Monday.

Sadikin noted that the room occupancy rate in hospitals was currently below 10 percent and the positivity rate had returned to below five percent or normal.

This achievement was possible due to the cooperation of all parties, Indonesians, and health workers.

“I want to thank all health workers for the dedication, hard work, and support to work together for and serve the community and make them lead healthier lives,” he affirmed.

Sadikin emphasized that the contribution of health workers from various professions was significant in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Insya Allah, we will start the transition from pandemic to endemic,” he noted.

To this end, Sadikin invited all parties, including health workers, to focus on the measures to control the pandemic and build a healthier Indonesian society.

He also remarked that President Joko Widodo had pressed for preparing a scenario to move from the COVID-19 pandemic to the endemic stage.

Sadikin believes that worldwide, the disease will eventually shift from pandemic to endemic, though it only needs preparation.

Referring to the history of pandemics in the world, several factors had always to be considered in transitioning to the endemic stage, he stated.

Meanwhile, Government spokesperson for COVID-19 Handling Wiku Adisasmito emphasized that the success of the transition from pandemic to endemic is determined by the safe behavior of the community during daily activities.

“Basically, the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission is inevitable. The best way to reduce the chances of transmission as much as possible is to close every opportunity of transmission, before, throughout, and afterward,” he emphasized.

Source: Antara News

Spokesperson for the COVID-19 handling task force, Wiku Adisasmito, has urged people to keep complying with the health protocols during Ramadan even though the government has relaxed several restrictions on people’s activities.

“This year, we are trying to (go) back to normalcy like before. However, the health protocols must continue to be maintained,” he said during an FMB9 online discussion on worship and food preparation during Ramadan, which was accessed from here on Monday.

People’s activities tend to increase during Ramadan, he noted. Thus, the risk of transmission can be higher, and the key to avoiding infection spread is following the health protocols, he pointed out.

He said positive cases and deaths from COVID-19 have continued to decline in recent weeks.

Based on the task force’s data, the average number of positive cases is currently around 3 thousand per day. The figure is different from the peak of cases on February 16, 2022, which was recorded at 64 thousand.

Therefore, he said, it is the responsibility of all parties to keep the figure from increasing again, namely by complying with the health protocols.

He stressed that regional governments must also continue to monitor the situation in their regions, especially those with dense populations and high mobility.

Regional governments are obliged to take anticipatory measures against a surge in cases by continuing to raise awareness and carrying out policy education.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo had emphasized that people can join the 2022 Eid al-Fitr mudik (exodus) if they have completed the primary vaccination and received the booster dose against COVID-19.

The President also said that every exodus activity must be accompanied by the implementation of strict COVID-19 health protocols.

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 28, 2022, Indonesia has recorded 6,001,751 COVID-19 cases, 5,724,963 recoveries, and 154,774 deaths.

Source: Antara News

The Indonesian government has begun discussing the Problem Inventory List (DIM) of the Sexual Violence Prevention Bill (RUU TPKS) with the Legislative Body (Baleg) of the House of Representatives (DPR RI).

“The DIM consists of 588 items,” Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga said at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, on Monday.

It includes 167 permanent items, 68 editorial change proposals, 31 reposition proposals, and 120 new substantial proposals, as well as 202 substantial change proposals, she said adding that they have been shared by her ministry earlier.

“On this occasion, we also want to convey that there is a DIM for the explanation of the bill. It comprises 24 permanent items, 70 editorial change proposals, 34 substantial change proposals, and 119 new substantial proposals,” the minister informed.

One of the issues included in the DIM is regarding the meaning of the terms used in the bill, which consists of 12 chapters and 81 articles, she added.

In addition, the bill must determine the types of criminal acts of sexual violence and describe the elements of the crimes.

A number of other matters would also need to be regulated during the discussion of the DIM, such as the implementation of punishment, rehabilitation, and restitution.

“Furthermore, the bill also has to regulate the implementation of integrated services for the prevention of sexual violence as well as coordination for preventing sexual violence and handling victims at the central and regional levels,” Puspayoga noted.

Furthermore, the arrangement of funding — to allow resources to be used for providing health services — and the development of international cooperation also need to be included in the discussion, she said.

In addition, transitional and closing provisions also need to be considered, she added.

Earlier, during a plenary session on January 18, 2022, the DPR RI had approved the RUU TPKS as a DPR initiative bill.

Source: Antara News

The COVID-19 Handling Task Force has asked people who want to join the Eid al-Fitr mudik (homecoming exodus) to get the booster vaccine as part of efforts to maintain public health and safety.

“Whoever who has not received the booster (dose), immediately get the booster. Whoever who has not completed (the primary) vaccination, immediately complete it to receive the booster,” spokesperson for the COVID-19 handling task force, Wiku Adisasmito, said during an FMB9 online discussion on worship and food preparation during Ramadan, which was accessed from here on Monday.

Adisasmito said that the government will not prohibit people from joining the 2022 Eid exodus, but they must get the booster shot first.

In addition, they must also make sure that the relatives whom they visit have completed primary vaccinations and have received a booster shot.

Upon completing primary and booster vaccinations, a person’s immunity would be stronger if infected with COVID-19 and the risk of experiencing symptoms or death would be lower, he noted.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo emphasized that people will be allowed to join the Eid al-Fitr exodus if they have completed the primary vaccination and received the booster dose against COVID-19.

The President also said that every exodus activity must be accompanied by the implementation of strict COVID-19 health protocols.

As part of efforts to boost community immunity against COVID-19, the Indonesian government rolled out a nationwide vaccination program targeting 208,265,720 citizens on January 13, 2021.

According to the task force data, as of March 28, 2022, nearly 195,992,326 Indonesians have received their first COVID-19 jab, 158,062,017 have been fully vaccinated, and 20,297,770 have received the booster shot.

Source: Antara News