The end of masks?

https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/ppkm-i … kowi-says/


To the handful of people remaining who still observe PPKM, President Joko Widodo today said that the pandemic-era restrictions will soon come to an end as the worst of COVID-19 seems to be well and truly behind Indonesia.
The enforcement of PPKM, which stands for the Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities, has been enforced and extended on a regular basis since 2021. The protocol was last extended on Dec. 6, and is set to last until Jan. 9.
“Yesterday our daily infection count was around 1,200. Maybe at the end of this year we will announce the end of PPKM,” Jokowi said this morning.
Indonesia was devastated by the outbreak of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in mid-2021, during which the country recorded over 50,000 new cases a day. During this period, more than 1,000 people were confirmed dead due to the disease per day.



I agreed with mask use before, but no so much now. I would quite like to see the restrictions gone.

@Fred


Join the club :(

https://en.tempo.co/read/1673238/covid- … s-official



28 December 2022 17:17 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The chairperson of the Covid-19 handling committee Airlangga Hartarto on Wednesday assured that the government's plan to end the Covid-19 restriction or PPKM is still being discussed. He said the next two days will be used to evaluate the policy and report it to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who will then publicly announce the result.
“The result of the study [will complete] in the third week of January,” said Airlangga, who also assumes the position of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs on December 28. “Just wait until that day comes.”

(All the above is one quote but something is wrong with the forum so it comes out as three)


It's wait and see on masks and so on but looking good.

I never agreed with the mask mandate in any country.  Voluntary, yes but not mandatory and I don' think they help the virus from spreading.

I don' think they help the virus from spreading.
-@Digitarius


That's why surgeons don't wear them.


At the time, I agreed with the mask mandate, but that seems to be less useful now.

However, the only people that actually matter as far as the decision goes are the people who have to deal with the consequences of their choices.

My opinion is only that, a nothingness of a shadow under the sun of those who have actual responsibility.

@Fred1f602.svg1f602.svg Surgeons know that

https://jakartaglobe.id/news/jokowi-res … strictions



Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo formally annulled the Covid-19 restrictions on Friday, nearly three years after they were imposed in the wake of the pandemic in 2020.
The president said the much-awaited decision was based on the steady decline in new cases in the past 10 months, despite some experts warning against any drastic measures during the holiday season and amid reports of the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant which caused a surge of cases in China.


We will follow this with more than a little interest. I went to the market this morning - Nobody had masks on


As for masks in general, the Jakarta post reports they are still required for indoor public places

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/in … ns-3175101



Jokowi, as the president is widely known, however, is urging Indonesians to remain vigilant and recommend that people should continue to wear masks in crowded places or indoors.


Let's hope this version is correct

From a government site


https://sehatnegeriku.kemkes.go.id/baca … i-dicabut/


Memakai masker di keramaian dan ruang tertutup harus tetap dilanjutkan. Kesadaran vaksinasi terus digalakkan karena akan membantu meningkatkan imunitas dan masyarakat harus semakin mandiri dalam mencegah penularan, mendeteksi gejala, dan mencari pengobatan.


Seems we must wear masks in crowded, closed spaces (That's going to include shopping centers and so on). However, a lot of places such as markets, smaller shops, and older or less popular shopping places are simply ignoring mask wearing ideals.

It seems a new covid, XBB.1.5,. is sweeping the US and another version hitting China.

The US has restricted visitors from China and it looks a lot like other countries need to restrict US visitors who can't show they are clear of the infection.


However, it's more than likely the new variants are already here, so let's hope they don't trigger a return of the old lockdowns and/or other restrictions.