VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Photo File: Head of Indonesia's Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Response, Doni Monardo, delivered statements in Jakarta. ANTARA FOTO/

Indonesia's Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Response expects public activities to normalize in July after months of enacting large-scale social restrictions in some Indonesian provinces, the body's chief, Doni Monardo, stated in Jakarta, Monday.

"The President (Joko Widodo) prompts us to work harder while calling on people to comply with the rules and to become more vigilant and disciplined," Monardo noted during a video press conference in Jakarta.

Monardo, concurrently chairing the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), also called on ministries and public offices as well as all stakeholders to become stricter in enforcing physical distancing and other rules imposed under the large-scale social restrictions.

"(By following all rules), we expect normalcy to be restored in our lives in July," he remarked.

Monardo also reiterated that Indonesia's government had banned people from following the homecoming or mudik tradition, with police officers blocking several thousand vehicles at some thoroughfares.

In order to prevent the Ramadhan exodus, Monardo expects public agencies to introduce the ban through a simple message. "It must be delivered through the use of simple words and local language, so the people are acclimatized to the fact that they are not allowed to follow the homecoming tradition and that they must follow physical distancing while also washing their hands regularly," Monardo expounded.

As of Sunday (April 26), Indonesia's Ministry of Health had confirmed 8,882 positive cases and 743 deaths. Of the total positive cases, 1,107 had recovered from the disease. (ANTARA)