Jokowi Says Indonesia Entering Transition Period of COVID-19 Pandemic

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo stated that Indonesia is entering the transition period from the COVID-19 pandemic to the endemic. Even though the public mobility restrictions or PPKM policy was revoked at the end of 2022, he encouraged state officials to stay vigilant and be thorough in issuing policies. 

“This is now a transition period and we must keep being alert and careful in making a policy,” said the President in a national meeting on the transition of COVID-19 handling and economic recovery 2023 in Jakarta, Thursday, January 26, 2023.

Jokowi asserted that particularly, state officials must be mindful in issuing policies related to the economy. He considered the current condition as a good time. The economic growth in the third quarter of 2022 reached 5.72 percent and 5.3 percent year-on-year (yoy).

“Pak Menko (Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs) Airlangga said 5.3 percent growth. If it’s achieved, it’s a good accomplishment that we have made,” said the former governor of Jakarta. 

In his speech during the meeting, Jokowi also recalled his decision against lockdown in the early COVID-19 pandemic although 80 percent of his cabinet ministers and the House or DPR members requested so. He claimed he refused the national shutdown due to fear of public chaos.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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