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Indonesia on alert as COVID-19 surges across Asia
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A health worker prepares a dose of the COVID-19 coronavirus booster vaccine for airport workers at Ngurah Rai International Airport near Denpasar, Bali on Jan. 30, 2023. (AFP/Sonny Tumbelaka)
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s several Asian countries grapple with a resurgence of COVID-19, the government has assured the public that Indonesia’s health sector is well-prepared to handle any future outbreaks, while authorities ramp up precautionary measures to prevent a domestic surge.
“The Health Ministry has transformed the health sector and better prepared health facilities, workers and laboratories [for future crisis, thanks to the lessons learned from the previous COVID-19 pandemic],” the ministry’s spokesman Aji Muhawarman told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. “Whether it’s COVID-19 or another threat, Indonesia is ready to face it.”
His statement came as Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong recorded in the past few weeks massive upticks in COVID-19 transmissions, sparking concerns about possible regional spillover.
In spite of concerns, Aji emphasized that the situation in Indonesia remains stable, with daily new COVID-19 infections consistently in the single digits since December last year, based on Health Ministry data.
Nonetheless, the government is tightening controls at entry points such as airports and seaports. Incoming travelers are now required to submit their recent travel history and health information via the SATUSEHAT Health Pass, an electronic declaration form introduced to bolster border surveillance.
Read also: Health minister faces fresh backlash over policies
Domestically, the ministry continues to rely on the Early Warning and Response System (SKDR), which gathers reports from health facilities across the country to monitor and respond to potential outbreaks.
