President Jokowi Appeals to Regional Leaders To Be On Same Page Against Covid-19

President Jokowi gives introductory remarks in a limited meeting through video conference, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (24/3). (Photo by: Ibrahim/PR).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has urged regional leaders to have one vision and implement similar policies in dealing with the ongoing covid-19 outbreak.

“Do pay closer attention to policies implemented in the provinces, be it the impacts on health, the safety of our people, or the socio-economic impacts that ensue,” the President said at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (24/3).

“If, for example, a city wants to shutter offices or business centers, the local government has to calculate the number of people that will be unemployed or the number of hawkers that will not work as well as its repercussions,” he said, adding that social assistance must also be prepared.

“We cannot just close [offices and business centers] without providing social safety net to support the policies that are implemented,” he said.

Citing reports from the Indonesian embassies throughout the world, the President said covid-19 has spread in 189 countries so far.

“Three more countries hit by the virus outbreak in the past two days are Syria, Grenada, and Mozambique,” the President said, adding that this indicates that covid-19 has become a pandemic whose spread is difficult to prevent. (TGH/FID/EN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas