In response to the high cases of COVID-19 transmission in Papua Province as well as the discovery of Delta Variant of Coronavirus in Merauke Regency, Governor Lukas Enembe is now considering a policy of closing in and out of access (flight paths and waters).

The closure is expected to take place from August 1 to August 31, 2021, so that all Papuans are asked to prepare and anticipate.

"This policy will be discussed and finalized further at an evaluation meeting by the Papua Province Covid-19 Task Force team on Wednesday, July 21, 2021."

"But our community asked to be prepared because there is a consideration of the leadership to close access in and out of Papua province. Excluded in activities related to National Sports Week XX Papua 2021 and National Paralympic Week XVI Papua 2021," explained Papua Governor Spokesman Muhammad Rifai Darus, in Jayapura, Tuesday (7/20/2021).

Rifai said that currently Governor Enembe is evaluating the implementation of Micro-Scale Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) in the Papua Province in accordance with the Papua Governor's Circular Letter Number: 440/7736/SET.

The letter is still valid until July 25, 2021. Therefore, the Governor of Papua asked all relevant stakeholders to synergize and move faster to ensure the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Papua, does not get worse.

Rifai added that Governor Enembe is very hopeful that all regents and mayors in Papua can implement the policies that have been published by the Papua Provincial Government.

This aims to facilitate the preparation for the implementation of National Sports Week XX Papua 2021 and National Paralympic Week XVI Papua 2021. "And furthermore to save every life of the people from the threat of the Covid-19".

"Because as the host of National Sports Week XX and National Paralympic Week XVI, Papua will continue to strive for the option of attendance of the audience that can enliven both performances. Therefore, Governor Enembe advised the regents and mayors to speed up and increase their acceleration in vaccinating all citizens in Papua in order to achieve herd immunity," he concluded.