President Jokowi to Revoke COVID-19 Pandemic Status in Indonesia
- times of india
VIVA – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will revoke the COVID-19 pandemic status in Indonesia following the decision made by the World Health Organization (WHO), which revoked the COVID-19 emergency status on May 5, 2023.
"The pandemic status will be revoked. It will happen as soon as possible, but not today. The President will make the decision," stated Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, at the Presidential Palace Complex on Tuesday.
However, Minister Effendy is unsure about the exact timing of the revocation of the COVID-19 pandemic status, as President Widodo will personally announce it at a later time.
"That is within the President's authority, not mine. But he will decide when the pandemic status will be revoked. We are waiting for his announcement," he explained.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that he has provided an update on the current COVID-19 pandemic situation in Indonesia and several other countries to President Widodo. Accordingly, the President has made a decision, which will be announced later.
"We have just updated Mr. President on the current pandemic condition. He will make the announcement himself. He promised to announce it at the right time," he stated.
Nevertheless, Minister Sadikin emphasized that COVID-19 has not completely disappeared. Therefore, he urged people to learn to live with infectious diseases.
"Just like we learn to live with other infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, and tuberculosis, they are still present," he added.