TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said his ministry started to develop a strategy on how to live normally with Covid-19 in accordance with President Joko Widodo or Jokowi’s direction.

“In the limited meeting, the President asks us to start formulating a strategy to live with the pandemic, not just a strategy to deal with the pandemic,” said Budi at an online press conference on Monday, August 23.

The strategy will include ways to balance healthy living and economic activities. In its implementation, Budi underlined people must be disciplined in complying with the predetermined health protocols.

“We have collaborated with several associations to start compiling information technology-based health protocols. We have the PeduliLindungi app that will be used throughout the country to help implement the tech-based health orders,” the minister explained.

The strategy of living with Covid-19 will also include strengthening targeted and non-mass testing and tracing. Both will only be applied to those who really need it, or what is known as epidemiological testing, not screening.

“So hopefully, we will not only talk about strategies for dealing with the pandemic but also strategies for living with the epidemic in the future as directed by the President (Jokowi),” Budi pinned hopes.

Read: Covid-19 Death Numbers Reincluded in PPKM Assessment: Govt

EGI ADYATAMA