December 14, 2023
JAKARTA – The Health Ministry reiterated on Monday the need for the public to complete COVID-19 vaccinations amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and the approaching holiday season.
Ministry spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi encouraged residents to complete promptly both primary and booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Nadia said complete vaccinations would give everyone sufficient immunity for travel. It would also help prevent infection during the journey and upon returning to their hometowns.
“Health agency chiefs across provinces and regencies/cities are urged to ensure that all health centers and other healthcare facilities within their jurisdictions continue to provide COVID-19 vaccination services,” she said in a media statement.
Local administrations are also requested to guarantee the availability of vaccines and other logistical needs, ensuring that the public receives accurate information about the locations for COVID-19 vaccination services.
This call followed the recent surge of COVID-19 cases across the country. As per the ministry’s report, from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, the weekly case count surged from 30-40 to a total of 267 recorded patients.
West Java reported over 80 cases as of Monday, while Central Java’s cases rose to 10.
The Jakarta Health Agency reported two fatalities linked to COVID-19 on Monday. Both patients had comorbid health conditions and were over 80 years old.
This surge in cases is not unique to Indonesia.
Several Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, have experienced a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases.
In response, the ministry issued a circular to international travelers in anticipation of COVID-19.
Nadia said people traveling abroad risked contracting COVID-19 through interactions with people from other nations.
Furthermore, Nadia called on the public to help proactively prevent the spread of COVID-19 by taking several precautionary measures. Besides ensuring complete vaccination and boosters, everyone is encouraged to maintain hand hygiene by washing their hands with soap and water.
Health authorities and medical professionals have also encouraged people to wear marks in public spaces, especially if they suffer from influenza.
If experiencing flu-like symptoms, anyone should promptly undergo a COVID-19 test. For those who test positive for COVID-19, the ministry asks them to practice self-isolation and access telemedicine services provided by the ministry.