Controlling COVID-19 Spread is Top Priority Amid Pandemic: President Jokowi

President Jokowi attends the opening of the 2021 National Conference of the Indonesia City Government Association (Apeksi), Thursday (11/02) at the State Palace, Jakarta. Photo by: Agung/PR

Controlling COVID-19 transmission must be a top priority in overcoming COVID-19 pandemic, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“Controlling the spread rate of the virus must be our top priority,” the President said in his remarks during the opening of the 2021 National Conference of the Indonesia City Government Association (Apeksi), Thursday (11/02) at the State Palace, Jakarta.

The President also expressed appreciation to the mayors across Indonesia who had worked hand in hand with the Central Government in handling health and social economic impacts of the pandemic.

According to the President, the pandemic is not over and everyone must continue to put the best effort in overcoming the pandemic.

“We have to find new ways to overcome the problems and even to make the most of the crisis to achieve significant progress,” he said.

Regarding efforts to control the spread of the virus, the President reiterated the importance of self-discipline in implementing health protocols. The obligation of wearing face masks, he added, must be coupled with the provision of face masks for those in need. He also said that the Government continues to strengthen testing, tracing, and treatment measures to control COVID-19 cases.

On that occasion, the President ordered regional governments to continue working hand in hand with the Central Government in handling the positive cases in their respective areas and to provide detailed zoning map for the spread of COVID-19.

“If deemed necessary, activity restrictions can be imposed on a micro scale,” the President said, adding that the regional governments must also pay attention to the availability of hospital beds and medicines as well as the preparedness of medical personnel in treating COVID-19 patients.

The President also underscored the importance of management for the acceleration of vaccination in the regions and ordered regional governments to prepare vaccinators.

“Regional governments and city governments must properly prepare vaccinators in terms of the number of personnel needed and also the management on the ground,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (RI/EP)