Saving the Indonesian people from a potential third COVID-19 wave is more important than amassing state income from foreign tourist visits, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has said.

“We do need foreign tourists. However, it is more important to save the nation from the possible entry of new (COVID-19) variants that could trigger a third wave (of infections),” he said in Aceh, according to a statement released by Press, Media, and Information Bureau of the Vice President’s Secretariat on Tuesday.

The new Delta AY.4.2 or Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 has been found in Malaysia and Singapore, he noted. To prevent the new variant from entering the country, the government has tightened Indonesia’s entry points, he said.

He then appealed to the public to comply with the health protocols and get vaccinated to anticipate virus transmission during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“The first is, of course, vaccination. The second is the implementation of the health protocols, and the third is the utilization of PeduliLindungi (app) in all public places such as tourist attractions, shopping areas, and in the school environment,” Amin said.

The Vice President urged the Aceh provincial government to expedite COVID-19 vaccinations noting the province is among the regions with low vaccination coverage.

“In Aceh, those who have received the first dose is 38 percent (of targeted recipients) and the second dose is 18 percent. Therefore, one of the strategies is expediting vaccinations in regions, including Aceh,” he said.

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of November 16, 2021, at least 4,251,423 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country, while 4,099,399 people have recovered and 143,685 people have succumbed to the deadly virus.

Source: Antara News