The COVID-19 pandemic status in Indonesia was officially revoked by the Indonesian government as announced by the country’s President Joko Widodo on Wednesday (June 21), and thus the largest archipelagic nation in the world would enter an endemic period.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (also locally known as Jokowi) officially announced the revocation of the COVID-19 pandemic status in the country on Wednesday (June 21), at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

Following the decision, Indonesia is expected to enter an endemic period, the president said.

"After more than three years of fighting together against the COVID-19 pandemic, since today, Wednesday 21 June 2023, the government has decided to lift the pandemic status and we are entering an endemic period," he stressed.

This decision was made in line with the revocation of the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) status for COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition, the decision was also taken by taking into account the daily number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, which is close to zero.

"The serosurvey results show that 99 percent of Indonesian people have COVID-19 antibodies," Jokowi noted.

Entering this endemic period, the head of state reminded people to remain vigilant and continue to adopt a healthy and clean lifestyle.

He expected that the lifting of the COVID-19 pandemic status could increase the vibrancy of Indonesia’s economic sector.

"With this decision, the government hopes that the national economy would move better, and also improve the quality of people's socio-economic life," he said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window