Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Health Ministry has directed its staff to not host group iftar (a meal taken at the end of the fasting period) during Ramadan this year to prevent the risk of COVID-19 spread.”It needs to be noted that the coverage of booster vaccination, the first and second doses, is still not optimal yet, so the state civil apparatuses are asked to remain cautious so that the efforts to get the endemic status can be achieved soon,” head of the communication and public services bureau of the ministrySiti Nadia Tarmizisaid here on Thursday. ccording to the Vaccination Dashboard of the Health Ministry, on Thursday, of the total 243.66 million target, the coverage of the first booster has reached just 68.69 million or 37.79 percent of the targeted recipients. Meanwhile, the second booster coverage has been recorded at just 1.68 percent. The ministry made the appeal following the issuance of the Cabinet Secretary Letter Number R-38/Seskab/DKK/03/2023 on group iftar, which was signed by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung on March 21, 2023. The letter contains some directives from President Joko Widodo to the ministers in his cabinet, national defense force commander, national police chief, attorney general, and leaders of institutions, for the duration of the Islamic holy month. The first directive states that currently, the nation is in the middle of the pandemic-to-endemic transition, therefore, caution still needs to be practiced against COVID-19. Second, in relation to the transition, activities wherein people have iftar together must not be hosted during the month. The directive also applies to regional leaders. “This is an appeal from the Cabinet Secretariat for state civil apparatuses to not have group iftar,” she stated. She urged state apparatuses to use Ramadan as a time to share with less fortunate people, given that the economic situation is improving with the pandemic coming under control. “During the pandemic, we did not come home. So, it is better that when we travel home, we can share more with our family,” she said. baca-jugaRelated news: Ministry prohibits mass iftar, open house for civil servantsRelated news: Ramadhan – Do not reheat iftar food for sahur: nutritionist
Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)