Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Bambang Soesatyo, has said there is a need to evaluate the performance of the COVID-19 team in order to improve countermeasures and stem the spread of the pandemic.

Speaking in Jakarta on Friday, Soesatyo said his suggestion is in response to the rising trend in COVID-19 cases seen across the nation since July 18, 2020. The daily increase has stayed consistent with 1,600 new transmissions.

"For this reason, evaluations are needed in order to ensure that the performance of the COVID-19 countermeasures team can be improved, so that COVID-19 spread can be stemmed," he explained.

The Speaker urged both central and regional governments to do their utmost to handle COVID-19 in each region, so that the results of the performance are in line with the targets set by the governments themselves.

Both the central and regional administrations also need to strictly re-impose large-scale social restriction (PSBB) measures, he said.

"Especially in areas with the most additional daily cases, such as DKI Jakarta, with 470 cases in the last 24 hours," he continued.

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He then suggested that the government, along with the COVID-19 Handling Task Force and the military and police forces, vigorously conduct PCR and rapid tests, as well as patrols in order to discipline the public to comply with health protocols in each region.

"Quickly limit or temporarily close sectors outside the nine sectors listed in the Minister of Health’s Regulation Number 9 of 2020 should the number of cases increase significantly. It is an effort to stem the spread chain and to avert the formation of new COVID-19 clusters," he stated.

He also urged the government to take serious steps in controlling the spread of COVID-19, especially in suppressing the number of daily cases.

"We urge all people to truly implement the COVID-19 prevention protocol wherever and whenever, and to comply with all regulatory policies issued by the government, bearing in mind the real threat of COVID-19 on our lives," he said.

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Translator: Boyke Ledy Watra/Aria Cindyara
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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