Indonesia Highlights: Indonesian Military Chief: Brace For A Surge of Covid-19 Cases in Jakarta | Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs: 2021 Hajj Only For Muslims Within Saudi Arabia | President J

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s military chief reminds Jakarta to brace for more Covid-19 cases, as their number neared 9,000 last Friday.

Indonesian Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas clarified that this year’s hajj is solely for those who live in Saudi Arabia.

And President Jokowi is promoting Bali as a safe tourist destination, despite the surge of Covid-19 cases throughout Indonesia. This and more on Indonesia Highlights:

Puspen Indonesian military chief Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto on Saturday (12/6/2021).

Indonesian Military Chief: Brace For A Surge of Covid-19 Cases in Jakarta

Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) chief Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto has warned of a spike in Covid-19 cases in Jakarta, a day after Indonesia set a new record for daily cases, after nearly 9,000 people tested positive for the coronavirus last Friday.

iHadi instructed Jakarta Garrison commander Major General Mulyo Aji, Jakarta Metropolitan Police chief Inspector General M. Fadil Imran, and other officials to “step up enforcement of Micro-Scale Enforcement of Community Activities or PPKM, to ensure the public complies with health protocols.”

He also ordered “testing and tracing to be carried out more intensively to prevent a more widespread transmission of Covid-19.” Hadi issued his orders following a meeting with National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and Covid-19 Task Force head Lieutenant General Ganip Warsito.

The directives come as the Wisma Atlet Covid-19 Emergency Hospital admitted 488 cases, increasing the number of patients from 4,019 to 4,507.

He also ordered them to offset the spiking number of cases by ensuring that there are enough beds, medication and other supplies.

Jakarta experienced the highest surge, as case numbers spiked up to 2,091 with a BOR of 62.13 percent, a 300 percent increase from 591 cases on June 1.

Source:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/06/13/08413571/panglima-tni-ingatkan-pangdam-jaya-hingga-kepala-rsd-wisma-atlet-antisipasi. 

AFP/HO/SAUDI MINISTRY OF MEDIA An image of Haj pilgrims walking in circles around Ka'bah while following strict health protocols dated August 2, 2020.

Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs: 2021 Hajj Only For Muslims Within Saudi Arabia

Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has confirmed that Saudi Arabia will not allow Indonesian Muslims undertaking this year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage to enter the country.

“The Saudi Arabian government announced that the hajj pilgrimage is only permitted for [Muslim] individuals in the country, whether Saudi nationals or expatriates,” Yaqut said on Saturday, June 13.

"It is also in line with their decision to set a hajj quota of 60 thousand pilgrims in 2021. Their decision was based on the need to prioritize [the pilgrims’] safety and security, as the Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of receding.”

He said Saudi Arabia’s announcement of the policy dispelled allegations that the country turned away Indonesian hajj pilgrims.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Yaqut. “Since Saudi Arabia allows foreign nationals within its borders to go on hajj, that means Indonesian citizens in the country can undertake the pilgrimage,” Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah asserted.

Saudi Arabia set a number of criteria for the hajj. These include setting the age for pilgrims to be between 18 to 65 years old, free from pre-existing conditions, and receive a Covid-19 vaccine approved by Saudi authorities.

Source:

https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/06/13/042332574/indonesian-minister-of-religious-affairs-2021-hajj-only-for-muslims-within-saudi?page=all#page2. 

Youtube Pemprov Bali President Joko Widodo speaks at the 43rd Balinese Artistic Festival on Saturday (12/6/2021).

President Jokowi: We Will Prove Bali Is A Safe Destination to Visit

Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is pushing the government and tourist industry to encourage visitors to visit Bali, as he prepares to finalize a Travel Corridor Agreement for Indonesia by July 2021.

The deal comes as Bali prepares to welcome overseas visitors next month “A main factor in Bali’s economic recovery is widespread compliance with [Covid-19] health protocols,” he said on Saturday, June 12.

“This includes a vaccination drive, Micro-Scale Enforcement of Community Activities or PPKM at the local levels.”

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said “Bali is 90 percent ready for foreign tourists.”

Bali’s health protocols start with health checks at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

“The checks include PCR tests, and pickup by taxis that are certified for Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environmental standards to the hotel that they booked,” said Bali Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati alias Cok Ace.

“The tourists are also required to quarantine at the hotel for five days, where they will take PCR tests.”

He added that if the visitor tested positive [for Covid-19] they will have to go to a designated hospital. If they tested negative, they can continue with their holiday.

Source:

https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/06/13/071800574/president-jokowi-we-will-prove-bali-is-a-safe-destination-to-visit?page=all#page2.