Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) distributed 50 thousand masks to the residents of Banten province in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.

In a written statement received here on Tuesday (August 3), Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center Abdul Muhari confirmed that of the total masks allocated to several areas in Banten, 20 thousand were for Serang District while 10 thousand each were for Pandeglang District, Lebak District, and Serang City.

The BNPB targets the distribution of masks to the Public Activity Restriction (PPKM) posts, pedestrians, traders, and the Ardaniyah Islamic Boarding School in Serang City, Muhari remarked.

Thereafter, masks will continue to be distributed to the sub-districts and villages with the support of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in each district and city.

Apart from distributing masks, Muhari also noted that the BNPB had monitored the implementation of PPKM in Banten Province.

Based on BNPB’s data compilation on Monday (August 2), Banten currently stood fifth in terms of the province with the most number of active COVID-19 cases nationwide, at 28,302.

To this end, Muhari emphasized that the monitoring and distribution of assistance at each PPKM post was expected to optimally suppress the transmission of COVID-19 in Banten.

The government will not be able to successfully handle the COVID-19 pandemic without the support of residents, Muhari stated.

The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. Since then, health protocols to help suppress virus transmission have been applied by the government, including wearing masks. Related news: Banten to receive 4,500 vaccine doses for people with disabilities
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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