Indonesia Nearing End of COVID-19 Pandemic: President's Aide

TheIndonesia.id - The COVID-19 situation that has been under control for the recent eight weeks demonstrated that Indonesia has neared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Presidential Staff Office's (KSP's) chief expert staff, Abraham Wirotomo, stated.

"Since March 24 until May 12, or for eight weeks, the (COVID-19) reproduction rate has been consistent at the score 1. This means that for eight weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic (in Indonesia) has been brought under control, and the pandemic will end soon," Wirotomo noted in his press statement here on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Despite the optimism about the pandemic ending, the government would continue to enforce activities restrictions and observe COVID-19 cases in the upcoming weeks to assess a potential surge in cases, he noted. "Those measures are necessary because we had recently celebrated Eid al-Fitr when the residents' mobility was at its peak. Epidemiologist indicators and inputs from experts will be considered before we take any decision," the expert staff remarked.

Wirotomo also urged residents to not become complacent by neglecting health protocols, as the government is yet to finalize the post-Eid al-Fitr COVID-19 handling evaluation. "Do not neglect the health protocols, and do not allow the bleak moment of the pandemic to repeat now. We must together end the pandemic this year and focus on economic recovery," he remarked.

The COVID-19 disease will not disappear even after the end of the pandemic, the chief expert staff stated, adding that the end of the pandemic means that COVID-19 has been brought under control, so no large-scale activities restrictions are necessary.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy also remarked that Indonesia had begun to transition from the pandemic to the endemic phase.

 "Yet, in essence, (we have to) look at the active cases, positivity rate, hospital occupancy rate, and mortality rate (to determine the transition to the endemic phase)," he noted in a written statement received here on Thursday (May 12).