Press Release After a Limited Cabinet Meeting on the Report of COVID-19 Mitigation Task Force

Head of The National Agency For Disaster Management/Chief of COVID-19  Mitigation Task force (Doni Monardo)

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Good Afternoon.

Fellow journalists,

A moment ago, a Limited Cabinet Meeting was held, chaired by Mr. President Jokowi.  The President emphasized some matters during the meeting.  The President has instructed the Task Force to continue maintaining the condition of people who are in a good health condition. The President has ordered that the people who are not in a good health condition should be treated under a self-quarantine mechanism or in the medical facilities provided. The ill patients should also be treated to get them recover. All of the measures are taken based on the community-based pentahelix collaboration method.

The President has also urged the people to follow the Central Government guidance on social distancing, which includes keeping a distance, avoiding crowds, and doing activities (studying, working, and worshipping) at home. The policy implementation requires self-discipline. Several countries are not ready to overcome a non-natural disaster, namely the COVID-19 Pandemic. Therefore, cooperation and awareness for helping each other are imperative.

The President has also ordered that all equipment needed for medical treatment should be immediately provided, from home and abroad, including rapid tests kit, personal protective equipment, reagents, ventilators, facemasks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant.

The President also highlighted the importance of intelligible health protocol. The protocol, including self-quarantine provision, should be obeyed.

Health services should be optimized and ready to handle unexpected situation. The measures to provide health facilities includes providing more government hospitals to treat coronavirus patients and involving the hospitals operated by the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and hospitals operated by the Indonesian National Police that have get the recommendation from Ministry of Health, as well as State-Owned Enterprises’ hospitals. Today we have three private hospitals that have obtained permits (for treating covid-19 patients). The other two hospitals will follow.

The President has instructed Minister of State-Owned Enterprises and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing to prepare the Wisma Atlet (the unoccupied athlete housing complex located in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, that accommodated athletes during the 2018 Asian Games—translator). On the 23rd (March) or next Monday, the Wisma Atlet is expected to be ready to accommodate around 1,000 to 2,000 patients.

The Kogabwilhan (Joint Regional Defense Command) will handle patients at the Wisma Atlet because the Kogabwilhan has an experience in handling the Indonesian citizens repatriated from the Chinese city of Wuhan and the Indonesians Citizen repatriated from World Dream and the Diamond Princess Cruise Ships. The Kogabwilhan will be supported by other stakeholders, especially from Ministry of Health. A number of national figures and entrepreneurs have agreed to provide hotels in capital Jakarta and in other regions (for patient treatment) in case the facilities provided by the Government is limited.

The President has called on the stakeholders to increase the mobilization of doctors who might later be deployed as volunteers, including medical workers, ambulance officers, and senior medical students.

The President also highlighted maximum protection for doctors, medical personnel, hospital employees and all elements directly involved in the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. Medical devices, food and vitamins should be ready, and (the medical personnel) should have enough time to rest. Support from all elements of society is needed to help medical workers.

The President also stressed the importance of the role of regional governments. Regional governments, he added, are expected to focus on education, dissemination and mitigation (of the outbreak). The President has also called for participation from villages and sub-district governments, including community leaders, Family Welfare Movement (PKK) and Youth Organization (Karang Taruna).

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs has also highlighted the importance of law enforcement for those who violate the rules set by the government. The Coordinating Minister quoted the principle of “Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto,” (the safety of the people is the highest law).

The Minister of Foreign Affairs has said that a plan is under way from other countries to provide assistance to Indonesia, including from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and from several countries.

The President has also emphasized that there should be no restrictions on the purchase of goods, especially groceries, because the national supply is still sufficient.

The President has ordered that the State Budget and regional budgets be prioritized for the handling of COVID-19 outbreak, especially for social safety net and for preventing layoffs in business sector.

There is also a plan to issue Presidential Regulation related to the BPJS (Social Security Provider for Health). The President has also instructed the Task Force to coordinate with all stakeholders, including religious leaders, cultural figures and the press.

There is also a plan for mitigation measures to disinfect particular places, particularly public places in several regions.

This coronavirus cases do not only hit Indonesia. Minister of Foreign Affairs says that almost all countries have now contracted the virus. We must stay united. Let us raise our awareness to defend our country and to work together. We should improve our self-discipline and collective awareness, so we can all overcome this COVID-19 threat.

That is the statement that I can deliver for today. Thank You.

Wabillahitaufiq walhidayah,
Wassalamu’allaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

March, 19th 2020