Jokowi Called India's Minister Of Health To Discuss Handling COVID-19

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that he had contacted the Indian Minister of Health last January to discuss handling the COVID-19. This is because this country managed to deal with this pandemic before experiencing an increase as it is now.

"India in November, from October, November, December, towards January successfully overpowered the curve. In fact, I remember that in January we called the Indian Minister of Health", said Jokowi to Regional Heads throughout Indonesia in 2021 which is broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel, Thursday, 29 April.

He then said that he had asked about the key to India's success in dealing with the rate of virus transmission in the community. "What is the key? The key is a micro-scale lockdown. So that we will adopt the micro-scale restrictions on community activity (PPKM) here", said the former Governor of DKI Jakarta.

Jokowi said that by using this method, India had succeeded in reducing the transmission of up to 10 thousand cases per day. But, now, the number of COVID-19 transmission in India has increased significantly to 350 thousand cases per day.

So, he ordered the regional heads to be careful. This must be done in order to prevent the massive transmission of COVID-19 cases from occurring in the country.

"These days there is an exponential surge in India, to 350 thousand active cases per day. This is what we all care about. Be careful of developments in India, not only in India, in Turkey, Brazil, and some in the European Union. Be careful", he stressed.

"No matter how small the active cases in the provinces, districts, cities that you lead, do not lose your guard. Follow the numbers and the curve carefully. Once it rises a little, you should immediately suppress it again so that it continues to decline", Jokowi added.

In addition, he also asked regional heads to be aware of the long Eid holidays. He reminded that in 2020, there was an increase in COVID-19 cases in the community every time the long holiday ended.

"Be careful with what is called a long holiday. We are approaching towards Eid Al-Fitr holiday," he said.

"Remember last year there were four long holidays where the increase was very jumpy, last year's Eid al-Fitr rose to 93 percent, August last year rose 119 percent, October holidays rose 95 percent, New Year rose to 78 percent. Therefore, be careful. After two weeks of holidays (cases rose, ed) almost 2 percent. Be careful", he concluded.