Jakarta to Continue COVID-19 Testing albeit Mask Mandate Relaxed
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19 May 2022 09:27 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The World Health Organization (WHO) asked for more COVID-19 testing in countries that have relaxed the use of face masks outdoors. Indonesia is among those countries. As announced by President Joko Jokowi Widodo, masks are optional in open places starting Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
Jakarta Health Agency’s Head of Disease Prevention and Control, Lies Dwi Oktavia, explained that testing would still be carried out especially for people who develop COVID-19 symptoms. “We stick to the testing capacity and ability,” said Dwi at the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) Building, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
According to her, Jakarta residents have had 2.5 years of experience dealing with the pandemic. This process has been quite good thus far, so people are relatively willing to be tested. “They also have self-awareness to take the test and understand if it (the test) comes out positive, they need to self-isolate,” she said.
Dwi opined that the rules for easing the mask mandate outdoors announced by Jokowi were detailed enough. The agency had received a circular from the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) or the COVID-19 Task Force about the mask-free policy outdoors. She also assessed that the risk of virus transmission outdoors is smaller than indoors.
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MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI
