Gov’t to Balance COVID-19 Mitigation, National Economic Recovery

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung delivers his statement on Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 82 of 2020, at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (21/7). (Photo by: Public Relations/Jay).

Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 82 of 2020 on COVID-19 Mitigation and National Economic Recovery Team was issued because the handling of COVID-19 pandemic and the handling of the economy are inseparable, according to Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

“We have learned from many countries that have put too much emphasis on health issues that the economic issues turn into another kind of problem. We should maintain a balance between resolving the economic issues and health issues,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said in his statement, at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (21/7).

Pramono went on to say that the economic issues should also be handled properly, considering that the number of recovered patients has increased from time to time.

“Maintaining a balance is quite important. Thus, President Jokowi issued the Presidential Regulation. As many as 215 countries are experiencing the same crisis in the economic and health sectors. We are on the right track compared to other countries,” Pramono said.

On that occasion, Pramono said that the country’s pandemic mitigation is improving because there is a decline in the death rate, adding that the Government will also cooperate with China-based pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech to develop the COVID-19 vaccine in December this year or January next year.

According to Pramono, the President previously received the Indonesian delegation team that handles the vaccine, namely the Head of Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), the Research Team from Padjadjaran University, and also from Bio Farma. That means that Indonesia is trusted as one of the countries developing Sinovac Vaccine.

“If the vaccine can be found and approved in December or January, we will work to produce it on a large scale. Then, the vaccine will be distributed to all provinces, including the top eight priority provinces,” Cabinet Secretary concluded.

Also present during the event were, among others, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir and the Head of National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo. (FID / EN)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: Yuyu Mulyani