Towards Covid-19 as an Endemic, Minister of Communication and Information: Let’s Strengthen Discipline with Masks and Immediate Vaccination

Illustration of communal immunity, Photo: Doc

Interactive News – Jakarta, 3 September 2021 – The government is preparing various steps to anticipate the scenario of the development of the COVID-19 pandemic in the long term, including the potential for this outbreak to become endemic. The government invites the public to always implement health protocols by using masks and hastening vaccinations as one of the first steps towards a new order of life side by side with COVID-19.

Since March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a pandemic due to its exponential spread globally. Therefore, COVID-19 is not categorized as an epidemic because it is not limited to a single geographic area.

WHO has stated that it is very likely that COVID-19 will be classified as endemic in the future, like Malaria or Dengue Fever. COVID-19 can be categorized as endemic if it continues to be present constantly in the population in a certain geographic area, with a more predictable rate and pattern of transmission.

Not only WHO has expressed this view, a number of countries have also agreed that COVID-19 has the potential to become endemic. One of them is Malaysia, which has invited all its citizens to prepare for the possibility of living with COVID-19 as an endemic.

“The instrument that is sufficient to differentiate between pandemics and endemics is predictability. After becoming endemic, the spread of the epidemic is more predictable, so that we can develop anticipatory measures. So, although we will live with COVID-19 for a long time, the situation will be more under control,” said Minister of Communications and Information Johnny G. Plate.

Professor of Public Health at the University of Indonesia, Hasbullah Thabrany, stated that anywhere in the world, a pandemic could turn into an endemic. When the time comes, WHO will issue the standard.

Hasbullahjuta added, “Anyone can get this endemic disease. In order not to get infected, it’s simple. Wear a mask. In addition, wash your hands clean, keep your distance, and always be vigilant considering that people near you are at risk of carrying the virus. So self-discipline is key.”

The Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny confirmed the same thing. To anticipate the change in the status of COVID-19 becoming endemic in Indonesia, all Indonesian people must actively participate in maintaining discipline in using masks and hastening vaccinations.
Minister of Communications and Informatics Johnny added that other health protocols such as maintaining distance and diligently washing hands are also important to always be applied.

“Using a mask and getting vaccinated are not two separate things. Both must go hand in hand in our efforts to defeat COVID-19. Not only does it function to provide protection and prevention, using masks and vaccinations is also very important to avoid fatal impacts if exposed to COVID-19. With the cooperation of all parties to discipline with masks and hasten vaccinations, the government is very optimistic that COVID-19 in Indonesia can turn into an endemic,” said the Minister.

Reporter: Alfridho Ade Permana

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