Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at Limited Meeting (through Video Conference) on Development Evaluation and Follow-Up of Public Activity Restriction (PPKM) Level 4, 7 August 2021, Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

May peace be upon us all.

Distinguished Coordinating Ministers, Ministers,

Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI),

Chief of the National Police,

All Governors and Vice Governors who are present,

All Regents and Mayors who are present,

Commanders of Military Regions,

Chiefs of Regional Police,

Commanders of Military Precincts,

Commanders of Military Districts,

Chiefs of Precinct Police,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Quick response, we need to take a quick response because it seems that there has been a shift of case spike from the islands of Java and Bali to (regions) outside Java and Bali.

And for the past two weeks, I noticed that the number of new cases in provinces outside Java island has continued to increase.

Based on my notes, on 25 July regions outside Java and Bali contributed 13,200 cases or 34 percent of national new cases, but as of 1 August, the number grew to 13,589 (cases) or 44 percent of total national new cases and as of 6 August 2021, it rose again to 21,374 cases. This has made up 54 percent of the total national new cases. Beware of the surge in the past two weeks.

I order Commander (TNI), Chief of the National Police to always remind Commanders of Military Regions, Chiefs of Regional Police, Commanders of Military Precincts, Commanders of Military Districts, and Chiefs of Precinct Police to take a quick response to the numbers that I have stated because they have the speed.

I saw the numbers. Beware. These are five provinces with a high number (of cases) as of 5 August: East Kalimantan had 22,529 new cases, North Sumatra had 21,876 (cases), Papua had 14,989 (cases), West Sumatra had 14,496 (cases), Riau had 13,958 (cases) as of Thursday.

Beware. Last Friday, on Friday, (the number of cases) in North Sumatra increased to 22,892, in Riau rose to 14,993, in West Sumatra grew to 14,712. I saw (the number of cases) decreased in two provinces, East Kalimantan and Papua. But beware, it always fluctuates.

And we need to be aware of East Nusa Tenggara province. Beware of East Nusa Tenggara. I saw that last week on 1 August, East Nusa Tenggara still had 886 (active cases) on 1 August. On 2 August, it had 410 new cases. On 3 (August), there were 607 new cases. On 4 (August), it had 530 (new cases). However, on 6 (August), there were 3,598 (new cases). (Regions with) numbers like this must be responded quickly,

What do we have we do? There are three important things.

First, related to public mobility. If the number of cases has soared that high, public mobility must be reduced. The first, the most important, all governors must know, commanders of military regions, chiefs of regional police, everyone must know that mobility of people must be slowed down for at least two weeks.

Second, I order Commander of the TNI concerning testing and tracing. Immediately find those with positive cases. Find them soon. Respond quickly because it deals with speed. Otherwise, people with COVID-19 will have gone everywhere, (the virus) will have spread everywhere. Find them soon.

Second, testing and tracing. Once again, find them immediately. Test people, trace the people with whom they had contact. That is the second.

Third, immediately take them, ask them to be admitted to centralized isolation facilities. It is the duty of governors, regents, (and) mayors to prepare centralized isolation facilities in their respective region. There can be one, two, or ten facilities. Schools can be used. I saw that in some provinces in Java island, schools, multipurpose halls, sports centers are used as isolation centers. Equip them with comfortable beds. Take patients there.

I order Minister of Public Works and Public Housing to also assist (regional governments) in preparing isolation centers, especially in the regions that I have mentioned, which must be given immediate response based on the number of cases.

Do involve the Indonesian Medical Association as well, especially in patient treatment. In Java island, (treatment) can be done through telemedicine, but if it cannot be used, (treatment) can be done through phone calls to reduce mortality rate.

Those are the three measures that I would like to deliver this afternoon.

Once again, let me repeat. Index of mobility must be reduced. Testing and tracing must be conducted with a quick response. Third, isolation centers. That is all. Based on the decrease in (the number of cases in) the provinces of Java island, these three measures can be taken. I suppose I do not have to say much on this occasion.

Finally, speed of vaccination that must be supported by everyone. Apart from those three, this is the final key, vaccination speed. Every country does this and we must also carry it out with speed.

Vaccines are available. Do not let vaccination stop even for a day or two once governors and regents / mayors receive them. Immediately inject them to the people. When they are out of stock, ask for more to the Central (Government). Do not store vaccines for too long, be it in health offices, hospitals, or community health centers. Order them to immediately inject all (of the vaccines) because this speed will bring protection for our people.

I will follow updates of the number of daily cases.

And that concludes my speech on this auspicious occasion. I will give time for Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs to have the floor.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (DH/EP)