Tomorrow morning, about 70 thousand units of the devices will arrive, and these have been produced domestically. Usually, our industries export the products to other countries, but the President has stressed that all textile industries must give prioJakarta (ANTARA) - The government has ordered protective equipment from local industries for medical workers on the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus, assured Doni Monardo, head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling.
"Tomorrow morning, about 70 thousand units of the devices will arrive, and these have been produced domestically. Usually, our industries export the products to other countries, but the President has stressed that all textile industries must give priority to domestic demand," Doni Monardo, who is also heading the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), said in a video conference here on Tuesday.
The task force has so far distributed 105 thousand personal protective equipment to some provinces, especially in Java Island, including the capital city of Jakarta, which has recorded the highest number of infections.
The government has so far provided 45 thousand devices to Jakarta, Bogor, and Banten; 40 thousand to West, Central, and East Java, Yogyakarta, and Bali; 10 thousand to other provinces outside Java and Bali; and, has kept 10 thousand additional devices as reserve.
"After the 70 thousand devices arrive, the military would help distribute 2 thousand units each to all regions. We hope that governors will work closely with the local military and police to distribute them to hospitals without delay," he said.
The Industry Ministry, he added, has asked all textile industries which have the capability to make personal protective equipment to produce them for domestic use as the country may need more protective equipment if the pandemic lasts longer.
As of Monday (March 23), Indonesia had 579 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 49 patients dying and 30 recovering from the deadly virus, and 500 patients still undergoing treatment for the infection.
Jakarta has reported 353 COVID-19 cases, West Java 59, Banten 56, East Java 41, Central Java 15, East Kalimantan 11, Yogyakarta 5, Riau Islands 5, Bali 6, Southeast Sulawesi 3, North Sumatra 2, West Kalimantan 2, Central Kalimantan 2, South Sulawesi 2, Papua 2, Riau 1, Jambi 1, Lampung 1, South Kalimantan 1, North Sulawesi 1, Maluku 1, and North Maluku 1 case.
As of Tuesday, the number of infections globally had reached 381,462, with 16,550 deaths. A total of 102,423 patients have recovered from the disease so far.
China has recorded the highest number of cases at 81,171, followed by Italy with 63,927, the United States 46,116, Spain 35,136, and Germany 29,056 cases.
The highest death toll has been recorded in Italy with 6,077 deaths, followed by China (3,277), Spain (2,311), Iran (1,812), and France (860). At least 189 countries have confirmed COVID-19 cases. (INE)
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Translator: Desca Lidya N, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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