"Some regions have conducted independent isolation, and residents in the adjoining regions expressed concerns over the provision of assistance. The president is optimistic that the entire region would follow the steps that were ably demonstrated by our community," Chairman of the COVID-19 Task Force for Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling Doni Monardo stated in Jakarta on Monday.
While delivering a press statement via video teleconference after attending a meeting with the president, Monardo remarked that the president had also urged the public to remind one another to diligently follow the government’s recommendations during the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).
"A section of the public had not complied with the PSBB measure, so the president has reminded us to improve discipline, both personally and collectively. If one or two citizens behave in an undisciplined manner, then those around should care enough and have the courage to remind one another," Monardo noted.
The president also lauded the regional head, who had encouraged the community to work together to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, and reminded all government officials to maintain safe distance, wear masks, and wash hands to stop the transmission of the coronavirus.
The Association of Indonesian Economists (ISEI) had earlier donated Rp530 million to charity foundations helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We laud the ISEI for its concern in the fight against COVID-19," Nasyith Madjidi, chairman of the Dompet Dhuafa Foundation, one of the foundations receiving the donation, noted in a statement here on Sunday.
Dompet Dhuafa has offered free services to those infected with COVID-19 and in need of medical treatment by readying eight hospitals, 21 medical clinics, 30 ambulances, five hearses, 200 zones of services, and 15 thousand volunteers.
The donation was handed over by ISEI Chairperson Pery Warjiyo via videoconference to Dompet Dhuafa and other charity foundations on Saturday.
"We laud the medical workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic. We prioritize this donation for the medical team, personal protective equipment, and others," Warjiyo, concurrently the governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), stated.
Apart from Dompet Dhuafa, the ISEI has also donated Rp100 million to the Association of Private Hospitals (ARSI), Rp100 million to Muhammadiyah Hospital, Rp50 million to Bhayangkara Police Hospital, Rp100 million to the South Bangka Hospital, and Rp50 million to Indonesia's Doctors Association (IDI), Bogor Branch, among others.
Dompet Dhuafa has, so far, distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers at 50 hospitals in various regions, medical devices, hygiene kits, rapid tests, basic food items, worship packages, disinfectant spray, psychosocial services, and others.
Furthermore, Dompet Dhuafa has readied a field hospital and container hospital as well as deployed a special response team to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
ARSI Chairwoman Susi Suli stated that currently 1,800 private hospitals are operating in Indonesia, or some 68 percent of the total hospitals existing in the country. Related news: MUI believes COVID-19 pandemic is momentum to deepen familial ties
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Rangga Pandu, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
