Our concern is to conduct massive 3T, testing, tracing, and treatment, with priority in eight provinces.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called to prioritize the country's eight provinces, including East Java, Jakarta, West Java, South Sulawesi, Central Java, North Sumatra, and Papua, in terms of the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our concern is to conduct massive 3T, testing, tracing, and treatment, with priority given to the eight provinces (including) East Java, Jakarta, West Java, South Sulawesi, Central Java, North Sumatra, and Papua," Jokowi remarked at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday.

At a limited meeting to discuss the acceleration of COVID-19 handling measures attended by cabinet ministers, the president urged the authority to step up testing for the coronavirus disease by preparing more laboratories as well as mobile laboratories.

"For (coronavirus) testing, we need more PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test kits and ready more laboratories in regions and mobile laboratories. I hope that we would be able to meet the target to provide 30 thousand (laboratories)," he remarked.

The head of state highlighted the significance of tracing and monitoring people at risk for the coronavirus disease.

"We then provide the treatment and (monitor) the self-isolation. Hospital facilities must be improved, especially beds, personal protective equipment (PPE), medicines, ventilators, and isolation wards, in the provinces that I had mentioned earlier," Jokowi remarked.

"I do not want to talk too much, but I do want to convey what we need to do in response to the increase in the number of positive (COVID-19 test results) and new cases that continue to increase," he stated.

At the meeting, Jokowi called on his aides to furnish only succinct reports on COVID-19 handling. He gave more time to highlight requisite measures to be taken immediately to curb the coronavirus spread.

As of Sunday (July 12), the number of COVID-19 patients in Indonesia had reached 75,699, with 35,638 recoveries and 3,606 deaths.

The virus has spread across the country’s provinces, with the highest number of cases recorded in East Java, reaching 16,658, followed by 14,517 in Jakarta, 6,973 in South Sulawesi, 5,473 in Central Java, 5,077 in West Java, 4,146 in South Kalimantan, 2,653 in South Sumatra, 2,323 in North Sumatra, 2,267 in Papua, 2,195 in Bali, 1,660 in North Sulawesi, 1,593 in Banten, 1,550 in West Nusa Tenggara, and 1,196 in Central Kalimantan. Related news: Surabaya mayor leads wear face mask campaign to contain COVID-19
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Translator: Desca LN, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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