Gov't Must Ensure Food Supply amid Surge of Omicron Cases: Expert

An economist has warned the government of potentially rising food price as number of COVID-19 cases continues to soar.

Economic expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Fajar Hirawan said the government must be able to ensure sufficient supply of staple foods in Indonesia to prevent increasing price, as mobility restrictions are predicted to be imminent.

“The spike in daily cases will likely force the government to implement social and mobility restrictions,” Hirawan said on Friday, February 4, as reported by Antara.

When it happens, rising food price will be inevitable due to lack of mobility that may result in scarcity.

Hirawan said the authorities are tasked with ensuring distribution access remain uninterrupted, if and when restrictions are enforced to contain the spread of COVID-19, especially the Omicron variant.

“The availability of staple foods depend on both production and distribution,” the expert explained.

The government is also warned to be able to provide non-cash aids to support Indonesians who are impacted by the regulations, as well as offering social assistances to members of the public who might lose their jobs.

The third wave of COVID-19 continues in Indonesia, and on Friday, the COVID-19 Task Force reported 32,211 new daily confirmed cases. The government resumes the acceleration of vaccine to counter the rapid spread of Omicron, and currently, more than 130 million people are double-jabbed. Booster rollout also continues across the country with more than five million citizens have received their third shot.