Epidemiologist Supports Indonesian Govt Decision to Lift Mask Mandate

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Purwokerto Yudhi Wibowo, a field epidemiologist from Jenderal Soedirman University, supports the government's policy of repealing the mandatory wearing of masks. This applies to domestic and foreign travels as well as during activities at public and large-scale facilities.

"In my opinion, as the WHO had already declared that the pandemic had become an endemic since May 5, 2023, one way of re-transitioning is by no longer mandating wearing masks. That should be left to the public to decide on their own," he said in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Central Java on Monday, June 12.

The WHO's lift of pandemic status, he said, means that mask wearing is no longer obligatory. And this, he added, must be followed by all countries including Indonesia.

"There should be guidelines that all countries, including Indonesia, should refer to, because this country also has to change regulations, lots of that. Furthermore, the presidential decision declaring COVID-19 as a non-natural national disaster will have to be repealed, and all other regulations must follow," he said.

The consequences of this, he said, will be related to costs. Thus, there will be steps on how the prevention and control of COVID-19 can be integrated into existing services and financing in Indonesia.

Moreover, he said that there should still be recommendations for people to get boosters or third and fourth doses of vaccines. So far, Indonesia's second and third booster targets have not been met.

ANTARA

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