Govt Prepares Strategy to Prevent COVID-19 Cases Spike on Year-end Holidays

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's COVID-19 Handling Task Force is preparing strategies to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases during the end of the year holidays, government spokesperson for COVID-19 handling, Wiku Adisasmito, has informed.

"Currently, the government is strategizing across ministries/institutions to anticipate a spike in cases at year-end holidays," he informed at an online press conference here on Tuesday.

The strategies should be prepared as early as possible in order to suppress potential spikes during the holiday season, he said.

Holidays during Christmas and the New Year will increase people's mobility, he explained. It is feared that COVID-19 cases will surge again during the period, like last year, he said.

To anticipate a potential surge, the government has prepared a number of strategies such as ensuring the easing of public activities but will apply strict regulations.

The government is also seeking to increase the rate of vaccination among the elderly, especially in the agglomeration areas (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Puncak, and Cianjur) and other centers of economic growth, Adisasmito said.

In addition, the government is encouraging the acceleration of vaccinations among children so that their immunity is strengthened during the Christmas and New Year holidays, he added.

"The chosen strategy is expected to be the basis of an effective and inclusive policy," Adisasmito said.

Another step is to secure the mobility of foreign tourist arrivals to the country, especially to the island of Bali, he added.

Tourists who have arrived must meet the conditions such as having been vaccinated and serving the mandatory quarantine, he pointed out.

The government will strengthen the role of local governments in supervising activities and educating residents about the details of health protocols that must be carried out, he said.

The effort encompasses disciplined observance of the COVID-19 health protocols, especially the 3Ms (keeping distance, washing hands, and wearing masks), he added.

"Thus, the public is requested to comply with government policies. The local governments are expected to reinforce those policies so that they can control the situation," he said.

Read: Govt Eyes 59% Targeted Population to Get COVID-19 Vaccine by Year's End

ANTARA