In Jakarta, we observe that the means of public transportation remain packed with passengers. The physical distancing measure cannot be applied as expectedJakarta (ANTARA) - A legislator opined that the government's large-scale social restriction and distancing policies to stem the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had yet to be implemented optimally in several parts of Indonesia, including Jakarta.
"In Jakarta, we observe that the means of public transportation remain packed with passengers. The physical distancing measure cannot be applied as expected," Willy Aditya, a member of parliament from the National Democratic Party Faction, stated here on Monday.
In conversation with journalists after attending a meeting at the Defense Ministry, he highlighted the need for the Indonesian military (TNI) personnel to become fully involved in the government's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Aditya, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I overseeing communication, foreign affairs, and security, deemed it critical for the TNI to be fully involved in the endeavors by taking into account the challenging reality.
He believes large-scale social restriction and distancing policies, for instance, had yet to be implemented as expected. The mobility of people returning to their hometowns was still being observed, and the personal protective equipment (PPE) had not been fairly distributed.
The coronavirus pandemic, which initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, has spread to various parts of Indonesia. Jakarta is the epicenter of the virus outbreak in the country.
As of Sunday, Indonesia had 2,273 confirmed cases, while death toll from the COVID-19 outbreak had reached 198, while 164 patients were discharged from hospitals after doctors declared they had fully recovered.
Among the COVID-19 patients, who died in Indonesia, were doctors and paramedics, who had contracted the virus after treating those diagnosed with coronavirus.
In dealing with the ongoing threats of this COVID-19, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has made it mandatory for all Indonesians to wear face masks in public to prevent them from transmitting or contracting this deadly virus.
To this end, the government must ensure the availability of face masks to meet the people's demand, he informed cabinet members during a videoconference meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, on Monday.
In the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, WHO officials had suggested that those falling ill should necessarily wear face masks. However, the organization has called on all people to wear face masks while venturing outdoors, he explained.
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Translator: Syaiful H, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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