TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
PeduliLindungi plays key role in curbing pandemic, supporting economic recovery
The government has encouraged the use of the PeduliLindungi application to optimize people’s health protection and to safeguard public activities during pandemic.
Change Size
Adjustment: A woman tries to scan a QR Code with the PeduliLindungi application. (Kontan/Fransiskus Simbolon)
T
he government has encouraged the use of the PeduliLindungi application to optimize people’s health protection and to safeguard public activities during pandemic. To date, the government is still improving the application so people can use it easily.
During a dialogue held on Thursday, the Chief Digital Transformation Officer at the Health Ministry, Setiadji, said that the use of the PeduliLindungi application had been rising. People used the application to gain access to shopping malls, travel activities and other features 9 million times daily.
In total, 60 million users have downloaded the application, and it has been reached through QR code screening more than 70 million times.
“The more regions reduce their level of activity restrictions, the more people will use this application,” he said.
Setiadji added that QR codes had been installed in approximately 30,000 places throughout Java and Bali, with Sumatra and Kalimantan to follow. The considerations behind the gradual expansion were the scope of vaccination, the activity restriction level and the technology usage level.
He added that the ministry had received feedback on the PeduliLindungi app for further development. As part of the development, PeduliLindungi planned to expand its scope to 15 digital platforms, including online ride hailing services, travel, banking, cinemas, local administrations and other ministries related to the reopening of activities. This was to be done along with the reopening of international flight access, which was to be conducted in line with international standards, so that vaccination certificates and PCR test results could be recognized multilaterally or bilaterally.
One example of the feature expansion, he said, was the adoption of some features available on the Tawakal application for haj and umrah (minor haj), namely user status and quarantine status, on the list of features that already harboured other services, like immigration status, e-visas and insurance. The growing list on PeduliLindungi would be especially useful for screening and anticipating foreign tourists entering Indonesian soil.
Setiadji guaranteed the absence of discrimination on the PeduliLindungi, even an Indonesian who received vaccine certificate abroad would be accommodated.
For those without smartphones, he added, a microsite had already been prepared by field officers so that they still could conduct screening tests to find out people’s health statuses.
“We can see that people with no smartphones must undergo some identity check in some public places, like airports, schools or before entering trains, as well as for workers entering offices. We need to check their identity card numbers to monitor their health status,” he said.
He then advised people to check their health status through the PeduliLindungi app for any close contact data before travelling. This strategy was expected to minimize COVID-19 infections.
“The PeduliLindungi application is a tool, above all. We need both the people and field officers to maintain discipline by regularly using the application,” he said.
Commenting on the role of the PeduliLindungi app, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Arsjad Rasjid said the country was battling two wars at once: one with the pandemic and one to improve the economy.
“This application plays pivotal roles in winning both battles,” he said.
Arsjad added that the PeduliLindungi app had played a significant role in restarting the country’s business and economic activities. This, he said, would help restore Indonesia’s earlier economic growth level, in line with COVID-19 pandemic controls. Besides that, he added, the PeduliLindungi application would be part of the industrial revolution 4.0 and the digital literacy adoption process. In the new normal situation, the PeduliLindungi application would be part of a new life adjustment, especially with regard to technology.
“The PeduliLindungi app is not just an application, it is a tool and a weapon to win the war against the pandemic and the sluggish economy. The quicker we do this, the quicker we can restore our connectivity to the world.”
Arsjad said Kadin had pledged its full commitment and was ready to use the PeduliLindungi application for the collective health effort.
“The key is the adjustment we make to new habits. This is a new world, new experience. Indonesia is not the only one who is doing this. Other countries have also done the same thing, and we are seeing huge benefits from it.”
Physician and public figure Lula Kamal acknowledged that the PeduliLindungi app had been increasingly needed and was thus useful, especially with more regions managing to reduce their activity restrictions. She said the application was also useful for gaining information related to vaccination and other medical assistance from competent medical officers.
“We must keep exploring the benefits,” she said.
She also said that during pandemic travel, people would need to maintain health protocol discipline and mobility limitations. People were also advised to maintain healthy lifestyles, not only for COVID-19 but also to have healthier lives.
