Jokowi Orders The Mayor To Distribute Masks To Residents Can't Afford To Buy

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ordered some extraordinary steps for the mayors to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. One of them is to distribute masks to residents in the area.

This was conveyed in front of the mayors and deputy mayors who were present at the opening ceremony of National Conference IV of the Association of Indonesian City Governments (APEKSI) at the State Palace, Jakarta.

"Don't just tell the public to wear masks, wear masks, wear masks, but now I have to add more orders, it has to be for masks", Jokowi said when opening the event which was broadcast online on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Thursday, February 11.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta said the mayor must order their staff to distribute masks. Because there are still people who cannot afford to buy masks to protect themselves from the dangers of COVID-19.

"Many people sometimes cannot afford masks. So in addition to ordering them to wear masks, they also appeal to masks, but also for masks", he said.

In addition, Jokowi reminded the mayors and deputy mayors to continue to echo the importance of 3M discipline in the midst of the pandemic such as wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands. In implementing this discipline, the local government will be assisted by the police and the TNI.

"The regional government, I have ordered the TNI Commander and the Police Chief, to be assisted by the TNI and Polri apparatus in the regions", he said.

Furthermore, on that occasion, Jokowi also expressed his appreciation to the mayors and deputy mayors who have jointly handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's just that, he reminded all parties that the pandemic is still not over. Not only that, Jokowi asked everyone to keep working hard and in more detail so that they could innovate to find new ways to deal with problems caused by the transmission of this virus.

"I want to emphasize that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. We still have to work hard, we also have to be more detailed to find new ways to overcome problems and even take advantage of this crisis to achieve significant progress", said Jokowi.