Indonesia to Reinstate Tighter Measures If Covid-19 Cases Spike

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Parts of Indonesia recently transitioned into the new normal amidst a continued rise of Covid-19 cases nationally.

A reemergence of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia is poised to mean the retightening of measures according to President Joko Widodo.

“Let this be a reminder that if there’s an increase in new Covid-19 cases, we will reinstate tighter measures or undergo lockdown again,” stated Jokowi during a visit to the National Covid-19 Task Force Office in Jakarta.

Also Read: Jokowi: Adaptasi Bukan Berarti Kita Kalah dari Covid-19

Jokowi has also asked regional heads who have implemented a new normal phase to routinely evaluate the situation on the ground.

Reopening the economy is a complex move when there has yet to be a vaccine or effective treatment to treat the novel Covid-19 virus.

Jokowi stressed the importance of turning to epidemiological data before regional heads loosen measures.

The President has suggested the idea of consulting with the National Covid-19 Task Force for regions that are interested in welcoming the new normal.

Timing plays an important role in successfully mitigating Covid-19 cases during the new normal phase.

There is always the risk of new virus hotspots or an increase of infections if the new normal is initiated prematurely.

“Timing is very important, and it has to be precise. The calculation, the numbers,” shared Jokowi.

Today, Indonesia recorded an all-time high of nationwide daily infection rate with 1,241 new Covid-19 cases.

There are 34,316 Covid-19 cases throughout the country as of 10 June in which 12,219 individuals have recovered.

The hub of the Indonesian economy, Jakarta, recorded 147 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday which is a significant drop from the previous day.

On 9 June, Jakarta recorded its highest daily Covid-19 cases of 239 infections which coincided with the capital city’s start to the new normal on 5 June.

To reassure public concerns in the new normal, the government is set to release a Covid-19 tracking app, Lacak-Covid (L-Cov), for Android users. The app has a variety of features ranging from daily updates to tracking functionality.

The government hopes that the app will offer convenience to users through real-time updates and monitoring.

Other measures to curb the spread of the novel virus includes calling for the public to adhere to the government's health protocols.

These include wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, and maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 meters – 2 meters. (Writer: Rakhmat Nur Hakim | Editor: Bayu Galih)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/06/10/13391511/jokowi-jika-terjadi-peningkatan-kasus-baru-covid-19-ada-pengetatan-lagi