Press Statement of the President of the Republic of Indonesia on Current Information of COVID-19 Mitigation and Preventive Measures, 20 March 2020, The Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May peace be upon us all,

Om Swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greeting of Virtue.

Ladies and Gentlemen, and Fellow Countrymen,

Day by day, we have taken quick measures to tackle the widespread of COVID-19 that have infected more than 180 countries.

Let me reiterate once more that we must remind one another to follow health protocol in limiting the spread of COVID-19. Don’t hesitate to reprimand those who are not discipline in keeping the distance, washing their hands, and maintaining their health. For those tested positive for the COVID-19 or suspected to be infected, carry out self-isolation immediately and maintain your health.

I asked regions and areas having no case of COVID-19 infection to apply a strict health protocol to reduce the risk of spreading Coronavirus. For regions and areas having COVID-19 cases in their environment, help our brothers and sisters to carry out self-isolation and provide sufficient support.

Today, the Government starts to conduct rapid test as an effort to get early detection to find out whether someone has been infected by the virus or not. The Government also prioritizes areas indicated as the COVID-19 prone areas based on the mapping result.

In addition, the Government has decided to carry out decentralized tests in which the Government authorized laboratories that are assigned by the Ministry of Health. The Government has also prepared medicines, based on research result and experiences of a number of countries, to be used to treat COVID-19 patients in accordance with doctor’s prescription. The medicine will be provided to the patients who need it by doctors visiting patients from house to house, by the hospitals, and community healthcare center (Puskesmas) in the infected areas. I have instructed the state-owned pharmaceutical enterprise producing the medicine to increase their production.

The Government is now preparing several supporting infrastructures namely isolating houses and hospitals Wisma Atlet (athlete village) in Kemayoran is ready to be utilized as an emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients and will be used as isolating houses as of Saturday night , 21 March 2020. The Islands of Sebaru and Galang are now being prepared for quarantine, observation, and isolation places. For the record, the reconstruction in Galang Island is expected to be completed on Saturday (28/3).

Capacity of referral hospitals will be increased, be it the numbers of rooms, equipments, medicines, and human resources. Hospitals owned by the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and state-owned enterprises have been prepared as hospitals for COVID-19. Private hospitals will also be involved to participate and their capacities will be improved .

I will mobilize all of the capacities of the Government, state, and nation to overcome this problem, be it the issue of health or the issue of economy that will follow later.

I think that is all I want to say on this occasion.

Thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Media:

You have mentioned about medicines, does it mean vaccine for COVID-19 has been found? Since there are a lot of information circulating, if the information is hoax, please confirm it. Regarding rapid test, which are the areas that are considered having great number of COVID-19 cases? Thank you.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

Regarding anti virus, currently it has not been found. The one that I’ve mentioned earlier is medicine. Medicine that has been tested to 1, 2, 3 countries and turn out it can cure the patients, namely Avigan. Five thousand (of Avigan) have been delivered to us and we will test it. Around 2 million more is being procured. The second medicine is Chloroquine, we have three million of it. I want to underline that we are not doing nothing, we search information that can be used to tackle the COVID-19 problem.

This afternoon, rapid test was carried out to areas that are recorded to have contact tracking of patients who are tested positive for the virus; thus, (the medical workers) have visited house by house to test the residents. There is indeed priority areas and we prioritize areas that are based on mapping result are indicated as the most prone areas.

Media:

In Jakarta?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

In South Jakarta.

I think that is all. Last question…

Media:

Mr. President, you have mentioned that Wisma Atlet and state-owned hotels in Jakarta will be utilized as isolating places for patients. How about the preparedness of regions outside Jakarta? Since other regions probably have less facilities than Jakarta.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

I find out that hospitals are also being prepared in other regions. I have also ordered Minister of Home Affairs to prepare buildings that can be used for quarantine and isolation in case that the number of hospitals is not enough. I think we have many buildings for government education and trainings in the regions, and they can be used as plan number 2 or 3.

I think that is all I want to say on this occasion.

Thank you.

I conclude this statement.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.