At the onset, Polri has made every effort to prevent new clusters of coronavirus from emerging
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Police confirmed that 34 demonstrators rejecting the newly endorsed job creation law, Jakarta, Thursday, were found reactive in rapid tests to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and taken to Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital for self-isolation.

"As per the latest data, 34 demonstrators in Jakarta and 13 demonstrators in Bandung were found reactive (to the virus)," Chief of the Public Relations Division of the National Police (Polri) Inspector General Argo Yuwono noted in a written statement released on Thursday.

With the finding of reactive cases, Yuwono urged the public to be more prudent in channeling their aspirations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic so as not to create new clusters.

"At the onset, Polri has made every effort to prevent new clusters of coronavirus from emerging. For its part, Chief of the National Police General Idham Azis has issued a telegram," he noted.

On Oct 2, 2020, the National Police chief had issued a telegram that bore instructions to prevent demonstrations in the wake of the COVID-1 pandemic on account of their impact on the public health and economy.

During the pandemic, ensuring public safety is the supreme law for which the National Police chief had issued the telegram to maintain public order as part of the efforts to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission, Yuwono noted.

The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has warned that widespread rallies against the job creation law could give rise to new COVID-19 clusters in the country.

“I am concerned that the number of patients is (likely to) increase in future,” Prof. Zubairi Djoerban, chief of IDI’s COVID-19 task force, stated here on Thursday.

The House of Representatives (DPR) and the Indonesian government on Monday passed the controversial omnibus bill into law amid mounting criticism over its provisions on labor rights, indigenous community rights, and environmental protection.

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Translator: Dyah Dwi Astuti/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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