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Govt drops mask rule as experts urge 'proceeding with caution'
Health experts are calling for the government to proceed with caution in easing the COVID-19 curbs while redoubling testing and tracing efforts to avoid a resurgence in cases.
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People lounge at a public park in Jakarta in October 2021. (Antara/Aprillio Akbar)
E
dward Danny, a resident of Bekasi, West Java, is relieved that he can now go outside without a mask if he avoids crowds, but says he will continue to wear a mask for the time being.
“I am excited at the prospect that the pandemic might soon be over,” the 54-year-old said on Wednesday. “But personally, I will keep on wearing face masks, since the point of it is to protect myself and those around me.”
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Hizkia Kenya of North Jakarta feels conflicted about the newly eased rule. “Yes, I’m happy that cases are declining. But I am also afraid that cases might rise again if people start to disregard the other health protocols,” he said.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced that people are no longer required to wear masks in outdoor settings starting Wednesday, saying that the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming “more controlled” as the country continues to ease its health protocols.
“[For] outdoor activities or in open areas that are not crowded with people, people are allowed to not wear masks. However, for activities in closed spaces and public transportation, masks are still mandatory,” the President announced on Tuesday in a livestreamed video on the Sekretariat Presiden YouTube channel.
Jokowi stressed, however, that vulnerable people, including the elderly and those with comorbidities, should still wear a mask in public.
He also announced that Indonesia’s travel rules would no longer require fully vaccinated domestic and international travelers to present a COVID-19 test result to enter the country.
