"This mass distribution of masks aims to invite and urge the public not to ignore the health protocols," Bangka Belitung Islands Regional Police chief, Inspector General Yan Sultra Indrajaya, said here on Friday.
The masks have been donated by several donors such as PT Timah Tbk, PT HKL, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the Bangka Belitung Health Office, and individuals as a joint commitment for preventing the transmission of COVID-19.
"In early 2022, there was a spike in COVID-19 cases because public awareness to comply with the health protocols decreased," Indrajaya noted.
The police chief said that masking up is mandatory and the community must implement the health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"We appreciate donors who have provided these masks, which will later be distributed to the public for free," he added.
Secretary of the Bangka Belitung Islands COVID-19 Handling Acceleration Task Force, Mikron Antariksa, affirmed that the masks would be distributed in public places.
"This step is the government's effort to invite the public to be disciplined in implementing the health protocols so that there is no spike in cases before and during this year's Eid al-Fitr," he said.
The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of March 18, 2022, Indonesia has recorded a total of 5,948,610 COVID-19 cases, 5,549,220 recoveries, and 153,411 deaths.
Meanwhile, Bangka Belitung Islands province has so far recorded 64,180 COVID-19 cases, 59,040 recoveries, and 1,544 deaths, as per the task force’s data.
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Translator: Aprionis, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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