Health Minister Budi Gunadi to Evaluate Relaxed Mask Mandate Policy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi said the government continued to monitor the COVID-19 situation after the relaxed mask mandate policy was enforced. If the pandemic is still relatively under control, then it is not impossible that Indonesia can be completely free of masks.

“We are still waiting until mid-June because the surge in cases usually occurs 30-35 days after the implementation of this policy. If the trend is relatively better, we will conduct another serosurvey in June. If it turns out good, hopefully, we can gradually relax [COVID-19 curbs further],” said Budi in a statement, Sunday, May 29.

He asserted that however, the relaxed policy issued by the government must still be carried out with full responsibility given that the world has not been completely free from COVID-19 so the risk of virus transmission remains.

Recently, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases, both globally and nationally, continued to decline. In Indonesia, the Health Ministry recorded that the daily case number was relatively stable at below 1,000 per day.

As the COVID-19 pandemic situation is improving, the government started to relax public restrictions as a transition from a pandemic to an endemic. Those who are in a good health are allowed to take off masks outdoors. This policy is effective starting Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

The elderly, people with comorbidities, and people who suffer from flu with symptoms of cough and cold are still required to wear face masks indoors or outdoors.

MUTIA YUANTISYA

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