Health Ministry Claims Indonesia's Pandemic Enters 'Controlled Phase'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Ministry (Kemenkes), in a meeting with members of the parliament on Monday, noted that people must not be carried away after outdoor Covid-19 health restrictions were loosened. The Ministry insists that the country is still in the phase of controlling the pandemic and that there are many steps that must be passed before entering an endemic phase. 

“There are a number of steps that we must pass from the pandemic to deceleration, controlling the situation, elimination, and eradication,” said Health Ministry deputy minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono in the House meeting aired online on May 23. 

Saksono believes that Indonesia is amidst a controlled period after years of struggling with the pandemic and believes the lack of disruption in people’s social activities and the dropping number of Covid-19 cases. 

“The controlled pandemic is still heading to its next phase and hopefully will improve until we arrive at the elimination and eradication phases,” said Saksono, who reminded people about the existence of the Spanish flu and Bird Flu years after the peak of the pandemic at the time. 

The Health Ministry is closely observing three scenarios that the country must endure during the pandemic-to-endemic transition which include the partial disappearance of the virus; the human immune system that is starting to adapt; and uncovering the virus’ pattern to predict future events. 

MUTIA YUANTISYA

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