Spraying disinfectants in Jakarta (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) - IndonesianPresident Joko Widodo said on March 20 that he would use "all statepower" to tackle health and economic problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to the media, Widodosaid authorities launched rapid testing for COVID-19 in areas where there havebeen infection cases the same day.
Policy makers have also beentrying to shore up the economy as the rupiah currency falls to the lowest levelsince the Asia financial crisis in 1998, he said.
Also on March 20, IndonesianFinance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati raised the country'scrisis management protocol level to "standby" from "alert"and warned that if the outbreak persisted, the country’s economic growth couldfall to between 0-2.5 percent.
Indonesia has so far recorded369 infection cases, including 32 deaths.
The same day, the UN Refugee Agency(UNHCR) and Rohingya community leaders in Malaysia are stepping up efforts toget refugees who attended a Muslim gathering to come forward for COVID-19 tests.
As of March 20 afternoon,Malaysia reported1,030 infection cases, the highest in Southeast Asia. Of which130 new cases were announced on March 20, including 48 people who had attendedthe Muslim gathering.
Earlier on March 16,Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyddin Yassin announced the country lock-down fromMarch 18-31 in order to contain the spread of the epidemic./.
Speaking to the media, Widodosaid authorities launched rapid testing for COVID-19 in areas where there havebeen infection cases the same day.
Policy makers have also beentrying to shore up the economy as the rupiah currency falls to the lowest levelsince the Asia financial crisis in 1998, he said.
Also on March 20, IndonesianFinance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati raised the country'scrisis management protocol level to "standby" from "alert"and warned that if the outbreak persisted, the country’s economic growth couldfall to between 0-2.5 percent.
Indonesia has so far recorded369 infection cases, including 32 deaths.
The same day, the UN Refugee Agency(UNHCR) and Rohingya community leaders in Malaysia are stepping up efforts toget refugees who attended a Muslim gathering to come forward for COVID-19 tests.
As of March 20 afternoon,Malaysia reported1,030 infection cases, the highest in Southeast Asia. Of which130 new cases were announced on March 20, including 48 people who had attendedthe Muslim gathering.
Earlier on March 16,Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyddin Yassin announced the country lock-down fromMarch 18-31 in order to contain the spread of the epidemic./.
VNA
