Minister Sandiaga Uno Urges Strict Health Protocols for End of 2023 Holidays Amid Covid-19 Surge

Monday, 12/25/2023 05:34 IWST

Photo: Passenger traffic at Senen Station, Jakarta, Thursday, (21/12/2023). (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki)

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno appealed to the public to increase awareness of the transmission of Covid-19 during the end of 2023 holidays by implementing health protocols in a strict and disciplined manner. This is in line with the increase in Covid-19 cases in Indonesia.

“To deal with Covid-19 so that it doesn’t impact tourism activities at the end of the year or the creative economy, let’s implement health protocols as before. During the new normal we learned about washing hands, wearing masks,” said Sandiaga in an official broadcast in Jakarta, Sunday. (24/12).
“Especially if there are those around us who are unwell, and complete our vaccine dose. That’s what I ask of everyone, not just tourists but all stakeholders in tourism and the creative economy,” he continued.

The Ministry of Health previously informed that Covid-19 cases had started to spread again in recent times. According to the Ministry of Health’s records, active Covid-19 cases for the period 6-19 December totaled 2,548 cases and weekly cases increased by 243 percent.

Currently, a new variant of the corona virus has emerged, namely the JN.1 variant, which is a sublineage of BA.2.86 in Indonesia. The World Health Organization previously classified Covid JN.1 as a variant of interest but the risk is low.

As reported by Reuters, Covid JN.1 can evade the immune system and transmit more easily than other variants currently circulating. However, JN.1 has not shown signs of more severe disease.

Currently, JN.1 is causing many Covid-19 cases, especially in the US. The US CDC said that on December 8 2023, JN.1 accounted for around 15-29 percent of cases.

Furthermore, Sandiaga said that by implementing health protocols, it is hoped that community activities, especially tourists in tourism destinations and creative economy centers, can run well and have a positive impact on economic revival.

The Ministry of Transportation projects tourist mobility by the end of 2023 to reach 107 million movements. This figure is up 144 percent when compared to 2022.

“For this reason, we need to be careful, vigilant. We remain optimistic that the tourism sector and creative economy can bring about revival of our economy,” said Sandiaga.

The public is also advised not to travel abroad as a preventive measure for the spread of Covid-19, and to choose domestic destinations as holiday options at the end of 2023 in order to encourage the movement of domestic tourists, which to date has only reached 688.78 million trips.

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