Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas urged the Religious Affairs Ministry’s staff to tighten health protocols and become role models in their implementation to prevent a major spike in new cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia.
"The ranks of the Ministry of Religious Affairs must become role models in implementing health protocols. This is part of our contribution to reducing the rate of COVID-19 transmission, and of course, this is part of our humanitarian duty," Minister Qoumas noted in his statement here on Sunday.
Qoumas urged officials and all employees at the ministry to coordinate with the COVID-19 handling task force in their respective regions. He also appealed for the scheme of working from office and home to be adapted to the local conditions.
To prevent a spike in cases akin to that currently occurring, he pressed for stringent application of health protocols by continuing to wear masks, washing hands, maintaining distance, avoiding crowds, and reducing mobility.
"We call on local community leaders to jointly tighten health protocols and urge the administrators of houses of worship to be actively involved in efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19," he remarked.
The minister drew attention to Instruction Number 01 of 2021 on the Socialization Movement for the Implementation of Health Protocols (5M). The instructions were addressed to high ranked officials, rectors/chairmen of state religious universities, heads of provincial regional offices and offices of the Religious Affairs Ministry in districts/cities, heads of madrasas, heads of the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA), religious counselors, and all state civil apparatus within the ministry.
On the whole, the instruction urges the ministry’s state civil apparatus to become role models in implementing 5M protocols in every activity within or outside the office. In addition, they must be active in raising awareness and implementing the discipline of health protocols within the work unit.
"All previously issued health protocol provisions are still valid. Implementation of the rules must be improved and strengthened through coordination and reporting. This effort is expected to be made optimally, and Indonesia is expected to be safe and soon free from COVID-19," the minister noted.
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