VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Business people and economists have expressed concerns about the government’s decision to ease travel restrictions, saying the policy could backfire and prolong the economic recovery from the coronavirus downturn Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry deputy chairperson Shinta Kamdani, told The Jakarta Post that easing restrictions might not have the desired effect on the country’s economy because the virus could continue to spread. Transportation operators told the Post they did not expect any immediate uptick in economic activities from the government’s new travel policy as people still considered it risky to travel during a pandemic. The national COVID-19 task force issued a circular letter on May 6 exempting state officials, private sector workers and state-owned enterprise (SOE) employees from the government’s ban on travel to and from virus red zones//JP