Doni Monardo Asked The Provincial Government Of Bali To Form A Special Quarantine Task Force For Foreigners

Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo (IST)

DENPASAR - Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo encouraged the Bali Provincial Government to form a special Quarantine Task Force. This task force is to improve the procedures for handling the mobility of Indonesian citizens and foreigners (WNA) who enter Indonesian territory via Bali.

Doni, who is the Chair of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, hopes that the formation of the Quarantine Task Force will involve all components from across ministries or institutions assisted by elements of the National Army (TNI) and the National Police Force (Polri). That way, the implementation can be done in a structured and independent manner.

"It is hoped that the Quarantine Task Force can be independent and all elements, be it the Ministry (or) this institution are in one command so that all foreigners and Indonesian citizens arriving in Bali really go through the health quarantine procedures according to the provisions", said Doni Monardo in his written statement, Friday, 2 April.

According to Doni Monardo, this is important to control the number of active cases in the country as well as to prevent the transmission of a new strain of COVID-19 that could potentially occur from human traffic entering Indonesian territory via Bali.

Moreover, the momentum of the long holiday and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr in the near future also has the potential to trigger a very high movement of the community and must be anticipated so that there is no explosion of COVID-19 cases.

If this happens, hopes to reopen the economic pulse of citizens through the tourism and culture sectors will be hampered.

"If we don't do this, I'm afraid that new strains from several countries will infect our people here. As a result, our hopes of opening up tourism in Bali will be hampered", said Doni.

Doni Monardo also hopes that through the performance of the Quarantine Task Force there will be an increase in the economic activity of the community.

During the pandemic that is occurring in the country, the Bali region was one of the regions that experienced economic pressure due to the paralysis of the tourism and culture sector which became an icon and attraction for domestic and foreign tourists as the largest foreign exchange earner.

"Because Bali nationally is experiencing very high economic pressure. So how can Bali still survive COVID-19 but also keep the people's economic life going? Even though it may not be optimal, don't be too depressed so you're not exposed to COVID-19 and not to feeling down because of the layoffs", explained Doni.

The government supports the Bali Provincial Government to optimally handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Because Bali has become Indonesia's storefront in the eyes of the world.

If Bali succeeds in controlling COVID-19, the level of trust and face of Indonesia will also be better internationally.

"Bali is an entrance and also a storefront for our nation. If Bali can control COVID-19 well, then the prestige of Indonesia in the eyes of the international community will also be very good", said Doni.