Indonesia considers to reinstate restriction after rise in COVID-19 cases
Head of Indonesia’s COVID-19 task force Doni Monardo said on July 10 that tighter restrictions on home and public gatherings will be reinstated after a double-digit rise in coronavirus cases has been seen for a second straight day.
People in Jakarta wear masks to prevent spread of COVID-19 (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Head of Indonesia’sCOVID-19 task force Doni Monardo saidon July 10 that tighter restrictions on home and public gatherings will bereinstated after a double-digit rise in coronavirus cases has been seen for asecond straight day.
Indonesia’s Health Ministry said July 9 witnessed another highest single-day rise of coronavirusinfections, with 2,657 new cases, bringing the total number ofinfections nationwide to 70,736. The country has never reported more than 2,000cases in a day before.
Monardo said as Indonesia braces togradually reopen the economy, the government has announced that the country’regions should meet two main conditions to be able to ease COVID-19 mobility restrictionsand start welcoming the so-called “new normal”.
Regions should either havemaintained zero COVID-19 cases or have witnessed a significant decrease in thenumber of infections inorder to relax curbs and reopen businesses under health protocols, headded.
However, if the regionscannot properly maintain and suppress its COVID-19 cases, the policy will turn around quickly. Thegovernment has not ruled out the possibility of tightening social movements inthe region again.
Responding to the surge in new cases, President Joko Widodo, on the sidelines of his visit to Central Kalimantan on July9, said the country was back in a “red light” position. Therefore, he orderedthe ministers and all local governments to be aware of the situation and totake action immediately./.
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