Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo held a meeting with 41 cabinet members via video conference to discuss speeding up of preventive efforts to check the spread of COVID-19 and maintaining economic stability in wake of the pandemic.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung shared a screen capture of the meeting through his official social media account on Monday in Jakarta.

"The limited meeting, led by President @Jokowi and Vice President @Kyai_MarufAmin and followed by 41 cabinet members, discussed measures to accelerate the economy in the face of the coronavirus pressure. #kabinetindonesiamaju (Indonesia Onwards Cabinet) #tetapbekerja (work continues) #hadapicorona (facing corona)," he wrote.

Presidential spokesperson for Social Affairs, Angkie Yudistia, confirmed the cabinet meeting, chaired by President Joko Widodo, had taken place via video conferencing.

"We are using video conferencing facilities to communicate with ministers and hear reports from each ministry, and these are normally conducted directly in the President's Office," she said.

The main agenda of the cabinet meeting was to discuss accelerating the handling of COVID-19 and maintaining national economic stability amid efforts to suppress and prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, she added.

Such measures, she said, were in response to the President's call for government officials and citizens to restrain from venturing outside, unless urgent.

"Activities can be done at home or in a place that is not particularly crowded. They can be maximized by using online devices to connect with the outside world," she continued.

The ministers will also communicate with all levels of ministry officials online to reduce the chances of a COVID-19 outbreak.

"This is to show the government's seriousness in handling COVID-19, which has been categorized as a national disaster so that its handling starts with prevention activities as early as possible," said the Presidential spokesperson.

Starting Monday morning, protocols have been put in place to control the flow of people coming into the Presidential Palace. A disinfection chamber has also been installed for visitors entering the Presidential Palace Complex. (INE)

Related news: President Jokowi chairs limited cabinet meeting on tourism in Magelang
Related news: Indonesia's coronavirus cases jump to 117


EDITED BY INE





Translator: Hanni Sofia/Aria Cindyara
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2020