COVID19 Indonesia. News Headlines.

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia seeks to pre-empt Covid-19 social unrest

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is reportedly working on an US$8 billion plan to shore up the health care sector, provide salaries to laid-off employees for five months and also dish out handouts to informal sector workers, who make up about half of the capital’s labor force.

That will require the government to seek parliamentary approval for an emergency presidential regulation in lieu of law, raising the authorized limit of the 2020 budget deficit from 3% to 5% – or perhaps even higher.

That only requires the prior approval of House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani, but it must be enacted into law by a plenary session of Parliament within three months of going into force.

Indonesia seeks to pre-empt Covid-19 social unrest

JAKARTA – The importance of a new spending package is growing by the day as the Indonesian government seeks to head off potential unrest on the streets and prevent Jakarta’s unemployed f…

asiatimes.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesian Stocks Plunge 5%, Triggering Circuit Breaker
Indonesian stocks plunged to a level that triggered trading halt, as the number of Covid-19 cases surge domestically and globally.

Trading can be halted again for another 30 minutes if the index hits the 10% circuit breaker after market reopens, according to Indonesia Stock Exchange rules.

Indonesian Stocks Plunge 5%, Triggering Circuit Breaker

Indonesian stocks plunged to a level that triggered trading halt, as the number of Covid-19 cases surge domestically and globally.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Coronavirus: Indonesia develops surveillance app to bolster contact tracing
The homegrown app, dubbed PeduliLindungi for the time being, cross references the data stored on its users' mobile devices through Bluetooth connection.

When a user is in the vicinity of another user whose data has been uploaded to PeduliLindungi, the app enables an anonymous exchange of identities, according to its official website.

If a user is found to have been in close proximity with confirmed suspected cases under surveillance, the app will identify them.

Coronavirus: Indonesia develops surveillance app to bolster contact tracing

JAKARTA (THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Indonesia's Communications and Information Ministry, in collaboration with the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry, has developed a mobile app that enables users to compile data related to the spread of coronavirus in their communities and help...

www.straitstimes.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Families, health workers face stigma as fear overtakes communities in Indonesia
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has created tension and panic in a number of communities in Indonesia as residents scramble to distance themselves from perceived risks of infection.

This week in Medan, North Sumatra, residents attempted to prevent the burial a suspected Covid-19 victim in a Muslim cemetery even though the family had followed the safety procedures set by health authorities.

The late patient was a civil servant who was previously admitted to Haji Adam Malik General Hospital in Medan. He died on Wednesday afternoon after two days of medical treatment.

Families, health workers face stigma as fear overtakes communities in Indonesia

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has created tension and panic in a number of communities in Indonesia as residents scramble to distance themselves from perceived risks of infection. This week in Medan, North Sumatra, residents attempted to prevent the burial a suspected Covid-19 victim in a Muslim...

www.asiaone.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Tens of thousands of flights canceled in Indonesia because of COVID-19
State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I has reported that a total of 18,300 flights at its 15 airports have been canceled from January to mid-March as Indonesian airlines scaled back operations in response to reduced demand due to the spread of COVID-19.

Around 14,000 of the canceled flights were for domestic connections, while the rest were international ones.

“The flight cancelations are based on the airlines’ decisions due to a decline in passenger numbers and low load seat factors,” Angkasa Pura I president director Faik Fahi said during an online press conference on Saturday

 

[Vanhelsing]

UK offers visa waiver for Indonesian relatives of British citizens
“Visa waivers are available for any Indonesian who is the husband, wife or child of a British national who is still in Indonesia and wishes to travel back together to the UK,” the embassy said.

If they meet all the criteria, individuals seeking a visa waiver should contact the embassy directly or via its Facebook account and detail their situation if they plan to fly back as a family, as visa waivers are considered on compassionate grounds on a case-by-case basis.

COVID-19: UK offers visa waiver for Indonesian relatives of British citizens

“Visa waivers are available for any Indonesian who is the husband, wife or child of a British national who is still in Indonesia and wish to travel back together to the UK,” the British Embassy in Jakarta said.

www.thejakartapost.com

 

[Helpful Herbert]

UK offers visa waiver for Indonesian relatives of British citizens
“Visa waivers are available for any Indonesian who is the husband, wife or child of a British national who is still in Indonesia and wishes to travel back together to the UK,” the embassy said.

I like this part:
"Johnson became the first leader of a major power to announce a positive test result for coronavirus on Friday. "

Talk about throwing shade on Canada.

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia confirms 129 new coronavirus infections, taking total to 1,414
AKARTA — Indonesia confirmed 129 new coronavirus infections on Monday, taking the total to 1,414 in the Southeast Asian country, said a health ministry official.

Achmad Yurianto, the official, reported eight new deaths, taking the total to 122, while 75 had recovered. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Toby Chopra).

Indonesia confirms 129 new coronavirus infections, taking total to 1,414

JAKARTA — Indonesia confirmed 129 new coronavirus infections on Monday, taking the total to 1,414 in the Southeast Asian country, said a health ministry…

nationalpost.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

COVID-19 Threatens Indonesia’s Overcrowded Prisons
..Indonesian prisons and detention centers are bursting at the seams. As of March 23, the country’s prisons and detention centers held almost 270,000 inmates, more than double the total capacity.

The Ministry of Law and Human Rights, which manages prisons, should also look at alternatives to custody or consider early releases or parole for detainees who are near the end of their prison terms or who pose little security risk, such as those imprisoned for unpaid fines. Those with underlying health conditions and older people at high risk of suffering serious effects from the virus should be given priority.

COVID-19 Threatens Indonesia’s Overcrowded Prisons

As the Indonesian government battles the COVID-19 outbreak – calling on Indonesians to respect physical distancing, closing schools and offices, even emptying the streets – a Jakarta court has continued to hold weekly trial sessions of six West Papuan activists charged with “treason.”

www.hrw.org

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesian retail starts shutting down as coronavirus crisis worsens

The Indonesian retail sector has begun to shut down in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, with shopping centers and retail chains voluntarily closing the doors to non-essential categories.

More than 30 shopping malls have been shut down in the country despite no order from authorities. Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMIRT) has temporarily closed 11 out of 23 shopping malls in the Greater Jakarta region, Bandung and Bali.

Indonesian retail starts shutting down as coronavirus crisis worsens

Indonesian retail has begun to shut down in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, with shopping centres and retail chains voluntarily closing their doors.

insideretail.asia

 

[Vanhelsing]

Health workers threaten to stop treating COVID-19 patients if PPE isn't supplied soon.

JAKARTA: Medical workers are urging the Indonesian government to provide adequate personal protective equipment and warned they will stop treating Covid-19 patients if the shortage persists.

The warning was made in a joint statement issued by several medical worker associations, including the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), the Indonesian Dentist Association (PDGI) and the Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI).

SOS for personal protective gear in Indonesia

JAKARTA: Medical workers are urging the Indonesian government to provide adequate personal protective equipment and warned they will stop treating Covid-19 patients if the shortage persists.

www.nst.com.my

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia to temporarily ban all foreign arrivals, transits to curb further spread of coronavirus

AKARTA - Indonesia will temporarily ban all visits and transits by foreign nationals to the country to curb the further spread of the coronavirus.

"President (Joko) sees that our current policy needs to be made stricter. We have decided that all visits and transits by foreign nationals to Indonesia will temporarily be banned," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after a virtual ministers' meeting with President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (March 31).

Exceptions to the ban include those with work permits as well as diplomats, Ms Retno added, stressing that proper health protocols will still apply.

Indonesia to temporarily ban all foreign arrivals, transits to curb further spread of coronavirus

Exceptions to the ban include those with work permits as well as diplomats. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia Plans Village Squads to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus
Indonesia plans to mobilize volunteers to fight the spread of coronavirus in coastal villages and the vast hinterlands of the archipelago with part of a $4.4 billion rural budget to be used to fund the initiative.

The squads of volunteers will help authorities in increasing awareness about the pandemic in the country’s almost 75,000 villages, collect data on people exhibiting symptoms of infection and enforce social distancing rules, Eko Sri Haryanto, an official at the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, told reporters in Jakarta Tuesday.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia steps up measures to anticipate influx of migrant workers returning home
“We are concerned [because] some 1.8 million Indonesians may be leaving Malaysia, so we need to step up our measures for health screenings,” he said during a limited Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, citing data from the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) in 2019.

In addition to migrant workers, the government is also preparing for the homecoming of 10,000 to 11,000 Indonesian crew members of luxury cruise ships.

COVID-19: Indonesia steps up measures to anticipate influx of migrant workers returning home - National - The Jakarta Post

Some 3,000 Indonesian migrant workers have returned from Malaysia in the past several days, the President has said.

www.thejakartapost.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia to release 30,000 prisoners early amid virus concerns
JAKARTA — Indonesia is set to release about 30,000 prisoners early as the Southeast Asian nation seeks to avoid a possible surge in coronavirus infections in its overcrowded prisons.

A document issued by the law and human rights ministry reviewed by Reuters stipulated that adult prisoners would be eligible for parole if they had served two-thirds of their sentences, while children would be eligible if they served half of their jail term.

Ministry spokesman Bambang Wiyono said on Tuesday the parole would encompass around 30,000 prisoners.

Indonesia to release 30,000 prisoners early amid virus concerns

nationalpost.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia confirms 114 new coronavirus infections, taking total to 1,528

JAKARTA — Indonesia confirmed 114 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,528, a health ministry official said.

Another 14 people had died, taking the total to 136, the official, Achmad Yurianto, reported. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Indonesia confirms 114 new coronavirus infections, taking total to 1,528

nationalpost.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesian President Jokowi announces large-scale social restriction and emergency status to curb COVID-19
JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday (Mar 31) that he has signed the regulations needed for cities and provinces to enforce what the government described as “large-scale social restrictions” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president said he signed a government regulation on “Large-Scale Social Restrictions” and a presidential decree on “Public Health Emergency Status”.

Mr Widodo said in a press conference that the restrictions will be based on the 2018 Law on Health Quarantine, which allows cities and provinces to shut down non-essential services and limit religious and social activities.

The president said the regulations would give permission to the national police “to take proportionate law enforcement steps" so that the large-scale social restriction measures can effectively prevent the spread of the outbreak.

Indonesian President Jokowi announces large-scale social restriction and emergency status to curb COVID-19

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday (Mar 31) that he has signed the regulations needed for cities and provinces to enforce what the government described as “large-scale social restrictions” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The president said he signed a government regulation

www.channelnewsasia.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia announces Rp 405 trillion COVID-19 budget, anticipates 5% deficit in historic move
Indonesia will issue a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) that will boost state spending by up to Rp 405.1 trillion (US$24.6 billion) and widen the budget deficit to 5.07 percent of GDP in the nation’s fight against COVID-19.

Of the extra spending, the government will allocate Rp 75 trillion for healthcare spending, Rp 110 trillion for social protection and Rp 70.1 trillion for tax incentives and credit for enterprises. The biggest chunk, Rp 150 trillion, will be set aside for economic recovery programs including credit restructuring and financing for small and medium businesses.

Indonesia announces Rp 405 trillion COVID-19 budget, anticipates 5% deficit in historic move - Business - The Jakarta Post

Indonesia will issue a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) that will boost state spending by up to Rp 405.1 trillion (US$24.6 billion) and widen the budget deficit to a record-high 5.07 percent of GDP in the nation’s fight against COVID-19.

www.thejakartapost.com

 

[Vanhelsing]

Government Insists Lockdown Not an Option Yet
However, those not in favor of a lockdown have cited India as an example, where a nationwide lockdown has triggered an exodus of migrants to their hometowns in rural regions, resulting in 22 deaths as the poor walked for hundreds of kilometers to reach their homes.

"Some people have raised questions on why we did not choose the lockdown policy. I need to say that every country has a different character, culture, and discipline, so we did not choose that path," he stated while chairing a recent video meeting with Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, cabinet ministers, and 34 governors.

Government Insists Lockdown Not an Option Yet

The question of imposing a nationwide lockdown in Indonesia is continuing to spark debate.

en.tempo.co

 

[Vanhelsing]

Indonesia Scraps Vehicle Tax Fines during Coronavirus Crisis
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) announced that it will not charge fines of unpaid motorized vehicle taxes during the coronavirus outbreak emergency. This will be valid until May 29, 2020.

“During the extraordinary occurrence (KLB) of Covid-19, people who are late to pay taxes until May 29 will not be charged with fines,” said National Police Traffic Corps Head Insp. Gen. Istiono on Tuesday, March 31.

Indonesia Scraps Vehicle Tax Fines during Coronavirus Crisis

The National Police Traffic Corps announced that it will not charge fines of unpaid motorized vehicle taxes during the coronavirus outbreak.

en.tempo.co