Jokowi's Fears About The Potential Spike Of COVID-19 After Eid Al-Fitr 2021 Holidays

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo gathered regional heads throughout Indonesia in a meeting to anticipate a spike in COVID-19 cases after the Eid holiday. This briefing was carried out on Monday, May 17, 2021, and was broadcasted on the Presidential Secretariat Youtube on May 18.

In the briefing, Jokowi said that there are still 1.4 million people who are desperate to go home for Eid this year even though the government has banned them. Not only that but tourist sites are also packed with visitors during the Eid Al-Fitr 1442 H.

"Because there is a blockage (homecoming), it drops to 1.1 percent (homecoming residents). Indeed, 1.1 percent seems very small. But the total is still very large, 1.4 million people are still going home," said Jokowi.

Jokowi alluded to the conditions of handling COVID-19 in neighboring countries. Malaysia has imposed a lockdown until June. Singapore has also been on lockdown since May and got tighter in recent weeks.

Jokowi's concern over a potential spike in cases has been seen repeatedly mentioning the word “caution” to regional heads.

Jokowi alluded to the increase in COVID-19 cases in 15 provinces. The 15 provinces are Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, Bangka Belitung, DKI Jakarta.

Then Maluku, Banten, West Nusa Tenggara, North Maluku, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and Gorontalo. Here Jokowi mentioned the provinces one by one by adding the word “caution”.

"This is the development of weekly cases on the island of Sumatra, be careful, you can see, it is down but still in a high position. North Sumatra is the same, has not gone up yet, West Sumatra is also high but there has been a decline. But still, everyone has to be careful, which has dropped drastically in Bengkulu," said Jokowi.

"Be careful," continued Jokowi, emphasizing his message to regional heads to anticipate a spike in COVID-19.

To governors, regents, and mayors who still have areas with the red and orange COVID-19 zones, Jokowi asked that tourist attractions there be temporarily closed.

For tourist attractions with yellow and green zones, they are still allowed to operate. However, the local government must place representatives of the regional COVID-19 Task Force at these tourist sites.

"Health protocols must be strictly implemented. We cannot let go of management, we cannot let go of our governance," said Jokowi.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta also warned about hotel occupancy issues. For example, the Riau Islands experienced a surge in hotel use from 10 percent to 80 percent. DKI Jakarta also experienced an increase from 35 percent to 53 percent.

"It's good for the economy. However, the COVID side must be properly controlled. Be careful with health protocols. If both can be managed properly, controlled by strict management, this is fine regarding hotel room-filling. But if you can't control it, be careful," he explained.