The Indonesian Minister of Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, stated that despite the absence of any new Covid-19 cases in the country, the emergency status of the pandemic is still ongoing.
He made this statement while leading a ministerial-level meeting on the emergency status of the Covid-19 pandemic and the specific state of emergency of mouth and foot disease (PMK).
According to Muhadjir, the pandemic status will remain in effect until May, and the government will listen to WHO’s advice before deciding whether the pandemic should continue or be shifted to an endemic stage.
He said, “The Covid-19 emergency status is still ongoing, and we will wait for its development until May. We will listen to the WHO’s fatwa, and it is only in that month that the Indonesian government will make a decision on whether the pandemic is still ongoing or can be shifted to an endemic stage.”
Regarding PMK, Muhadjir stated that, according to Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo’s suggestion, the pandemic status can be ended and replaced with a specific state of emergency.
“This means a special condition where, although it is no longer a pandemic, it still requires special treatment, and this is essential in reorganizing the legal regulations that have been imposed, especially those related to the assignment of BNPB,” he explained.
Furthermore, he said that a joint task force would be formed to handle both Covid-19 and PMK simultaneously, making it more efficient and more coordinated in terms of cost savings.
“The joint task force will continue until June, and its urgency will be reviewed after June. If it is still needed, it will be continued. If not, it will be terminated, and if there is still a need for PMK, we will regulate it further,” he added.
