Pandemic Status in Indonesia Might End Next Year: Chief Minister

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan estimates that Indonesia's Covid-19 pandemic status might end by 2023.

"There is a huge possibility [on the end of the pandemic status], but we also have no idea whether there would be new (Covid-19) virus variants," the coordinating minister said on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

Luhut, who also serves as deputy head of the Covid-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN), said that Indonesia would refer to the World Health Organization (WHO) regulations before declaring the end of the pandemic.

"We must comply with WHO [regulations], but our conditions are far improving now. As compared to several countries, we are among countries with better conditions," he added.

He said that Indonesia fared better than other countries, especially nations entering the winter season, where the Covid-19 infection rate surged again.

Also read: New WHO Panel to Speed Up Pandemic Response, Address Shortcomings

"Covid-19 handling in Indonesia is good. As we can see, you are all masked and have received booster vaccines. I had even received my fifth vaccine dose," he said.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and KPC-PEN Head Airlangga Hartarto said the government could declare the pandemic status as having ended if Covid-19 infection cases continue to decline until February 2023.

The government will also evaluate the public activities restrictions enforcement (PPKM) until the end of October 2022 to consider follow-up actions.

"We will determine the future of PPKM implementation at the end of next month provided that Covid-19 vaccination and booster vaccine administration intensified for November, December, and January," Airlangga said.

He added that if Indonesia can keep its Covid-19 infection cases low until February, the government can declare the pandemic over.

Source: State News Antara