Jokowi Calls for Patience In the Wake of Ending Coronavirus Restriction
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26 December 2022 21:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that he is unable to confirm when the government will lift the coronavirus restriction known as PPKM. Jokowi explained that he is still waiting for the result of a seroprevalence survey that will be provided by the Health Ministry.
The President firmly stated that he does not plan to take any further risks in ending the coronavirus restriction without proper studies. Jokowi then called for patience from members of the public.
"Later on when [the study is completed], especially as this involves a seroprevalence survey, this must be presented in detail. We must not fail in making the decision. We should remain patient and wait," said Jokowi during his visit to the Manggarai Station on Monday, December 26, 2022.
The seroprevalence survey by the Health Ministry will have to be 90 percent before the President makes any decision related to lifting the coronavirus restriction.
During the Indonesian Economic Outlook 2022 event on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, President Jokowi hinted at revoking the coronavirus social restriction known as the PPKM and PSBB. He believed that the pandemic restriction could no longer take effect as daily cases continue to stagnate.
“Likely at the end of the year we can declare a stop on the PSBB [mass-scale social restriction] and PPKM,” said the President on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
During the event, the President’s speech also touched on the matter where he refused to implement a total lockdown, going against advice from state ministers and the general public. At the time the Delta variant was detected in Indonesia, the country recorded 56,000 daily cases.
“At the time I remember nearly 80 percent of State Ministers, and the public, suggested imposing a lockdown,” Jokowi recalled.
Jokowi believed that the situation would be different from what it is today if he decided to implement a total lockdown. "If we did it at the time, it would be a different story today," Jokowi said.
"Thankfully we remained calm and not nervous," said Jokowi.
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