Luhut Says America Appreciates Indonesia's Pandemic Handling

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (Photo: Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the United States appreciated the handling of the pandemic in Indonesia, which is currently quite under control, when he visited the country.

"What we got from our trip yesterday to America last week was highly appreciated," said Luhut in a virtual press conference, Monday, October 25.

In the past week, the average number of new COVID-19 cases per day has increased to less than 1,000 cases. Then, confirmed cases in Indonesia and Java-Bali have each fallen to 98.9 percent from their peak cases on July 15.

To the United States, Luhut explained that the key to controlling the pandemic in Indonesia is thorough coordination with all levels to pay attention to PPKM supervision and health protocols.

Luhut said this effort was not applied to a number of countries which are currently experiencing a spike in cases and entering the third wave.

"In many countries that doesn't happen. That's why the wave attacks continue to happen, as happened in the Netherlands starting last week," he explained. 19.

"There is an increase in cases in 105 cities and regencies throughout Indonesia, although this is still well controlled," said Luhut.

Therefore, said Luhut, President Joko Widodo reminded the ministers to continue to be aware of the increase in cases in the area in question, in order to prevent the emergence of a third wave of COVID-19.

One of the efforts that will be made is tightening a number of activities. This tightening will be carried out in the extension of the PPKM next week.

"We see that there are still indications of ups and downs. Of course we need to be careful. So we will take many steps later, sometimes they may be considered too strict, but we have no choice," he concluded.