"We must closely monitor the potential for distribution in several clusters - migrant worker clusters, tabligh congregation clusters, Goa clusters, homebound travelers clusters, and industrial clusters," he stated at the Bogor Presidential Palace here on Monday.
"These need to be really monitored seriously. We see that based on reports that I have received, some 89 thousand Indonesian migrant workers have returned home, and it may increase by 16 thousand. This needs to be addressed," he remarked during a meeting on COVID-19 response via a video teleconference.
Participants at the meeting comprised Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, cabinet ministers, and Chair of the COVID-19 Response Acceleration Task Force Doni Monardo.
The number of returning Indonesian migrant workers was higher than the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency’s (BP2MI’s) estimation of 37,075 Indonesian migrant workers returning to the country after the contract period expired in April and May 2020.
BP2MI reported that migrant workers returning to the country constituted 15,429 people from Malaysia, 11,303 from Hong Kong, and 3,507 from Singapore. The three countries also bore the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"This must be guarded properly on the field, so that a second wave does not appear," the president stated.
The head of state also highlighted the significance of being cognizant of COVID-19 transmission in industrial zones and instructing the inspection of industrial operations in areas that apply large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) to control the transmission of the disease.
"Our industrial cluster must ensure that industries are permitted to operate, and on-field checks must be conducted to evaluate the implementation of strict health protocols," he emphasized.
COVID-19 transmission took place in the industrial area at a cigarette factory PT HM Sampoerna Tbk in Rungkut, Surabaya City, where 66 workers had tested positive for COVID-19, as of Sunday (May 3).
As of May 3, Indonesia had recorded a total of 11,192 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,876 people having recovered and 845 dying of the virus.
COVID-19 cases spread to 34 provinces in Indonesia, with most cases of transmission occurring in Jakarta, reaching 4,463; followed by 1,117 in East Java, 1,054 in West Java, 776 in Central Java, 601 in South Sulawesi, 432 in Banten, 269 in West Nusa Tenggara, 262 in Bali, 240 in Papua, 195 in West Sumatra, 195 in South Kalimantan, and 185 in South Sumatra. Related news: Indonesia's airports apply operational efficiency amid COVID-19: AP II
Related news: Govt spokesman confirms 211 other Indonesians recovered from COVID-19
Translator: Desca L Natalia, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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