By : Ananda Prameswari )*
President Jokowi has officially revoked the Covid-19 pandemic status. This status change has gone through a long study and is the result of expert input. Currently, Indonesia has entered an endemic period and people do not need to fear the malignancy of the corona. However, they still have to maintain nutrition and vitality, as well as health protocols.
When the new pandemic started in 2020, people were afraid of getting corona, and they immediately bought up masks, face shields, hand sanitizers , and herbs such as ginger, so they could stay protected from the covid-19 virus. The appeal to stay at home was immediately fulfilled. The community also lives a healthy lifestyle by exercising (usually cycling) and maintaining environmental hygiene.
However, currently Indonesia is in a safe phase because the number of corona patients is much reduced and the majority of Indonesian citizens have been fully vaccinated. Indonesia entered an endemic period and President Jokowi officially lifted the pandemic status, on June 21, 2023.
President Jokowi stated that the Indonesian people had been struggling for 3 years in dealing with the co-19 pandemic. As of Wednesday 21 June 2023 the pandemic period was lifted and Indonesia entered the endemic period.
This decision was taken in line with the revocation of the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) status for COVID-19 which was carried out by the World Health Organization or WHO. This decision was also taken by the government taking into account the daily number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country which is close to zero. The survey results show that 99 percent of Indonesian people have COVID-19 antibodies.
In a sense, revoking the pandemic status and changing it to endemic was not done impulsively, but after a long study. When there was a revocation of the corona pandemic emergency status from WHO, Indonesia also immediately revoked this status.
The study was carried out in consultation with doctors and other health workers who were on duty and saw data that the number of corona patients in Indonesia was decreasing. According to data from the Ministry of Health, as of June 21, 2023 the number of Covid-19 patients was only 114 people. Then, during the 3 years of the pandemic, the number of patients who recovered was far greater than those who died (more than 90% recovered).
Currently there are more than 169 million Indonesian citizens who have received the vaccine (according to data from the Ministry of Health). This means that more than 70% of the people have been fully vaccinated (got 2 injections). Meanwhile, there are 37% of people who have received booster vaccines.
If more than 70% of the population in an area has been vaccinated, the pandemic status can be ended, and this is a WHO rule. So, the revocation of the pandemic status has met the requirements and the status has changed to endemic.
Endemic is when a disease (in this case corona) is still present but has limited transmission. The disease is only present in certain areas and its transmission can be controlled. An example of endemic is malaria in Kalimantan and Papua.
The head of the IDI PB Task Force, Professor Zubairi, stated that from a number of indicators, the pandemic phase was almost over, and replaced with endemic. One indicator of entering an endemic period is the corona positivity rate below 3 percent. Meanwhile, the patient mortality rate and hospital bed occupancy rates are very low.
Entering this endemic period, President Jokowi reminded the public to remain vigilant and continue to adopt a healthy and clean lifestyle.
The endemic phase does not mean that the virus has disappeared 100% even though it can be controlled. Therefore, the public is urged to adhere to health protocols and maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle.
The public must still adhere to health protocols and be injected with vaccines. Discipline regarding health protocols must be increased again. People are urged to continue to comply with health protocols, especially wearing masks.
Don’t forget health protocols such as wearing a mask, washing your hands or using a hand sanitizer, keeping your distance, bathing after activities outside the home, changing clothes, and so on. Prokes must be carried out because it is not only good for preventing corona. But it also prevents other infectious diseases such as influenza and hepatitis.
President Jokowi hopes that the decision to revoke the pandemic status can increase the vibrancy of the economy in the country. In a sense, when a pandemic becomes endemic, the situation changes and returns to the pre-pandemic period, and people are free to do outdoor activities. They continue to work and obey the health protocol and can do business and work with enthusiasm, so that it has a positive impact on the country’s economy.
Indonesia has entered an endemic period and the pandemic status has been officially revoked by President Jokowi. The number of corona patients decreased and the treatment room for Covid-19 patients at the hospital began to empty. Even though the situation is relatively safe, don’t be negligent and forget the health protocols. Keep obeying the prokes by wearing a mask, washing your hands, keeping your distance, and obeying other points in the prokes.
)* The author is a Media Room Contributor
