Essential features in the government’s PeduliLindungi app will soon be available within other major Indonesian apps, as the government seeks to expand digital screening and tracing coverage amid increasing public mobility during the pandemic.
Acknowledging that some users prefer to avoid apps cluttering their phones, the Health Ministry’s Digital Transformation Office Chief Setiaji said that starting in October, PeduliLindungi features will be available in 11 of the most popular apps in Indonesia, namely Gojek, Grab, Tokopedia, Traveloka, Tiket, DANA, Livin’ by Mandiri, LinkAja, Jaki, GOERS, and Cinema XXI.
“There would be no need to use the PeduliLindungi app, as you will also be able to get PeduliLindungi features in those apps. This will be launched in October,” Setiaji said, without specifying an exact date.
PeduliLindungi has been increasingly essential in the past couple of months for screening purposes. The app contains users’ digital COVID-19 vaccination and testing history, and is required to access public facilities with COVID-19 protocols, like malls, and for travel.
Furthermore, the ministry is also looking to make life easier for people who don’t own smartphones, as their vaccination and test history will be integrated into their NIK (ID card number).
“For example, at the airport [the data] will be integrated with the airline ticket. When traveling by train, the users’ [NIK] will be validated when they purchase the ticket, so without a phone we can identify whether or not a passenger has been vaccinated and tested,” Setiaji said.
