Jokowi Understands Aspirations For Relaxing Economic Activities, But Can Only Be Done If COVID-19 Cases Are Low

President Joko Widodo (DOK Setpres)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) admitted that he heard the aspiration for easing economic activities related to emergency PPKM and micro PPKM. But easing can only be done if COVID-19 cases are low.

“I understand that there are people's aspirations so that social and economic activities can be relaxed. This kind of thing can be done if cases of transmission are low if chronic cases entering the hospital are also low," Jokowi said in a virtual briefing to regional heads throughout Indonesia which was broadcast via the Presidential Secretariat Youtube, Monday. July 19.

If the easing is carried out in a condition where COVID-19 cases are still high, Jokowi is worried that health facilities will collapse

“Imagine if the restrictions were relaxed, then the cases would rise again, and then the hospital would not be able to accommodate the existing patients. This will also cause our health facilities to collapse. Be careful with this too," he said.

Therefore, Jokowi asked regional heads to move in the field with strong commands down to the sub-district and village levels. It must be ensured that the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, especially the massive discipline of health protocols (prokes), is carried out.

"And most importantly, if the discipline of health protocols can be guaranteed, especially maintaining distance and masks. The only two points are now accelerating vaccination, the second is process discipline, especially masks, wearing masks," Jokowi continued.

In the opening of the directive to regional heads, Jokowi alluded to the COVID-19 case which will last a long time mainly because of the emergence of new variants. It takes a long breath for optimal handling of the corona virus.

"I ask the governors, regents, mayors who are supported by the Forkopimda ranks, that all of them focus on this problem, both the COVID-19 side and the economic side, and management and organization are key and I ask that all organizational machines be run as well as possible. We need strong field leadership to deal with the current pandemic," Jokowi said.