Jakarta –
Masks are mandatory items during a pandemic. Now, various countries have freed citizens to use it or not. The following is the experience of one of the Indonesian professors.
In January 2023 I underwent the Umrah pilgrimage, in Mecca and Medina around 90% of people no longer wear masks. This can more or less illustrate that there has been a significant easing in the use of masks in many countries.
Masks in India
At the end of February 2023 I attended and became co-lead rapporteurs at the “High-Level meeting on Paving for Strong and Resilient Health System in South-East Asia” in Goa, one of the tourist attractions on the west coast of India.
Participants in the meeting included the former Indian health minister and former Timor Leste minister of health, and also the former deputy director general of WHO and the former head of WHO West Pacific, representatives from Thailand, Bangladesh, South Korea and myself from Indonesia, as well as of course the leadership of WHO Southeast Asia.
All meeting participants did not wear masks anymore. Apart from us who come from various countries, practically no one is wearing masks in India, both in Goa and also in the metropolitan city of Mumbai.
Returning from Goa, I did have a few hours of transit in Mumbai and saw the city. I was able to go to the Gateway of India which was full of people and not all wearing masks, including those accompanying me.
Masks in Singapore
From India to Jakarta I also stopped by a few hours in Singapore. We know that since 13 February 2023 in Singapore there is no longer an obligation to wear a mask on public transportation, after previously the obligation to wear a mask had been relaxed.
Around Orchard road there may still be around 25% of visitors passing by who still wear masks, maybe because it’s a habit, although it’s no longer an obligation.
What’s also interesting, on the Singapore Airlines flight ticket it is clearly written that at Changi airport it is no longer mandatory to wear a mask.
Masks in Japan
Arriving in Jakarta I met with representatives of the Japanese Sasakawa Foundation which treats leprosy. He said that starting March 13, Japan will start a new policy in which the use of masks is generally no longer mandatory, and it’s up to each person’s decision.
Apart from this personal experience, we know that America and Europe have also not made it mandatory to wear masks for a long time.
The development of not requiring the wearing of masks has clearly occurred in many countries, in line with the ongoing control of COVID-19 in the world.
The writing above is the experience of Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, post-graduate director at YARSI University or FKUI professor, former WHO Southeast Asia director of infectious diseases, who served as director general of disease control and former Head of Research and Development Center for Health.
Watch Video “Hong Kong Repeals Mandatory Mask Wearing Regulations“
(msl/fem)
