Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Military (TNI) has set up four Integrated Joint Task Commands to handle the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) I Vice Admiral Yudo Margono stated.

"The four commands will serve as subunits of the task Force for handling COVID-19," Margono noted at a press conference here on Monday.

The four commands will be stationed at the Athletes Village in Kemayoran, Jakarta; Natuna Island, Riau Islands; Sebaru Island in Seribu Islands, Jakarta; and Galang Island in Riau Islands.

The task command at Athlete Village will be led by Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Eko Margiyono, while Chief of the Air Force Operation Command Air First Marshal M. Khairil Lubis will lead the task command in Natuna Island.

The task command at Sebaru Island will be led by Chief of the Navy First Fleet Command Rear Admiral Muhammad Ali, while Chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command Maj. Gen. M. S. Fadhilah will lead the task command at Galang Island.

"We are preparing those areas for the observation of COVID-19. Our focus now is still on the Athlete Village that had been inspected by the president," he remarked.

The Integrated Joint Task Command in Athlete Village, comprising the TNI medical team unit, supporting unit to supply logistics, and security unit, will commence operations on Monday at 5 p.m. local time.

The command will involve personnel of the Army Elite Forces (Kopassus), Navy Marine Corps, and Air Force Specialized Force Corps (Paskhas).

"A total of 566 personnel will be deployed to the command at the Athlete Village," he revealed.

As part of its endeavors to tackle this COVID-19, the government had dispatched an Indonesian Air Force Hercules C-130 aircraft to the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai to transport nine tons of China's medical assistance.

The medical assistance is the first phase of aid. China is expected to send another 20 tons of medical aid for Indonesia.

As of March 22, the government announced that Indonesia had 514 confirmed cases of COVID-19, while the death toll from this deadly virus had reached 48, and 29 COVID-19 patients had been discharged from hospitals. Related news: Disinfectant fluid sprayed on Indonesia's C-130 carrying medical cargo

Related news: Indonesia obtains 150,000 rapid test kits for COVID-19 from China


Translator: Dewanto Samodro, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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