"This new normal scenario should have a positive impact. This is since there is optimism over an improvement in economic performance," Utama remarked in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The analyst opined that the stock market will tend to respond positively to the government's plan to relax large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) and apply a new normal scenario in accordance with its stages.
On the basis of the preliminary study of the Coordinating Ministry (Kemenko) for Economic Affairs, implementation of the new normal scenario will be divided into five phases, starting from early June to the end of July 2020.
The preliminary study aims to identify requisite precautionary efforts after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.
Related news: Business operators ready to face new normal: Kadin
Related news: Industry Ministry encourages innovation in preparing for new normal
Nevertheless, Utama believes the government must also mull over and take precautionary measures against a likely spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, which until now have failed to decrease.
"The challenge is how to deal with the number of COVID-19 cases that can potentially increase, especially since the vaccine is still in the testing phase," Utama pointed out.
Until Tuesday at 12:00 Indonesian western time (WIB), the number of patients recovering from COVID-19 rose by 235 to reach 5,877 people in total, while the number of deaths increased by 27 to reach 1,418.
The number of patients under supervision reached 12,022 and those still being monitored reached 65,748.
Data indicated that the number of confirmed or COVID-19 positive cases as of Tuesday increased by 415 people to reach 23,165.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had earlier monitored regional capability to control the transmission of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and preparedness to seamlessly migrate to a new normal.
During a virtual limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, Jokowi highlighted that successful transition to a new normal will depend on epidemiologic parameters that could show the level of virus transmission in each region.
Related news: President monitors regional readiness in transitioning to new normal
Related news: New normal order to be applied in specific sectors: President
"In preparation for switching to a new normal, I have called on the authority to check the preparedness of regions to control the spread of the virus," Jokowi remarked during the meeting to discuss preparations to implement protocols to maintain productivity while preventing COVID-19 transmission to effortlessly usher in the new normal.
The head of state drew attention to the high rate of COVID-19 transmission in several regions, including East Java. Jokowi has given instructions to the military and police to station their personnel at crowded areas in East Java to ensure public adherence to the large-scale social restriction (PSBB) rules.
Moreover, the president has ordered the Task Force for Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling and local governments to increase laboratory testing for samples of COVID-19 patients, contact tracing, and quarantine patients to cut the transmission chain of the virus.
"We will implement this in provinces that continue to show an increasing curve," he revealed. Related news: President orders immediate dissemination of "new normal" protocols
Related news: Jokowi plans to enforce new normal order in larger areas
Reporter: Citro Atmoko, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
