Covid-19 Emergency Status Still Continues, Minister Reveals

VIVA – The Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy stated that the COVID-19 emergency status still continues in Indonesia. Currently, there are two diseases in emergency status, such as Covid-19 and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

"The Covid-19 emergency status is continuing. Even now, there are two diseases in emergency status, first Covid-19 and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)," Minister Effendy stated after the Ministerial Meeting on the Status of COVID-19 Public Health Emergencies and the Status of Certain Emergencies of FMD in Jakarta, on Monday.

Today's ministerial meeting agreed that the COVID-19 emergency status continues, pending developments until May and awaiting guidance from World Health Organization (WHO). 

Then in May, the Indonesian Government will decide whether the pandemic status continues or can be transferred to the endemic stage, Minister Effendy added.

Meanwhile, for FMD, based on the recommendation from Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo, the emergency status can be ended and changed to “special condition."

"This is significant to sort out the implemented legal umbrella and regulations, especially ones related to the appointment from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency,” he remarked.

The last point that was agreed upon during the meeting was that the task force would be on duty until June.

"After June, its urgency will be reviewed again. If it is deemed to still be necessary it will be continued, if not, then it will not be continued while waiting for further regulation.” Minister Effendy said.