Some 18 tourist destinations are still open, but those managing the tourist sites enforce social distancing measures and provide handwashing and disinfectant spraying facilities to visitorsPekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - The Riau provincial administration has temporarily closed 117 tourist destinations throughout the province to stop visitor mobility to halt the spread of the deadly new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a government official stated here, Wednesday.
"Some 18 tourist destinations are still open, but those managing the tourist sites enforce social distancing measures and provide handwashing and disinfectant spraying facilities to visitors," Head of the province's tourism office, Raja Yoserizal Zen, stated.
The closed tourist destinations exist in various districts and cities in Riau Province, including the districts of Siak, Indragiri Hulu, Kuantan Singingi, Pelawawan, Kampar, Rokan Hulu, Rokan Hilir, Meranti Islands, as well as the cities of Pekanbaru and Dumai.
In Siak District, 10 tourist destinations, including the Siak Palace considered the icon of the district's tourism industry, the House of Datuk Pesisir, and a Dutch colonial compound, have been temporarily closed, Zen noted.
In Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau Province, the authorities have temporarily terminated the operations of nine destinations, including Alam Mayang, Kampung Rabbit, Asia Farm, as well as the Rumbai and Tenayan Agrotourism areas.
Riau is one of the provinces battling this deadly coronavirus since the central government officially announced two COVID-19 cases on March 2, 2020.
In breaking the chain of the COVID-19 outbreak, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto has approved the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Pekanbaru.
On the basis of the study, the health ministry concluded on a considerable spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in Pekanbaru, for which the city should impose PSBB to expedite the handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
Considering the fact that COVID-19, which initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, has spread to all 34 provinces of Indonesia, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had declared the coronavirus outbreak a national disaster on April 13.
As of Wednesday, Indonesia had reported 5,136 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Although death toll from the contagion has reached 469, a total of 446 patients have completely recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital.
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Translator: FB Anggoro, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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