VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Chief of the Task Force for Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling Doni Monardo gave due emphasis to the fact that the implementation of health protocols to thwart the spread of COVID-19 transmission was non-negotiable.

"Application of health protocols is non-negotiable," Monardo remarked during a visit to the Mobile Laboratory Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) at the Moh. Ridwan Meuraksa Hospital in East Jakarta on Tuesday.

Monardo noted that the people were on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19, while hospitals and medical workers were the last line of defense in this fight.

To this end, the public should prioritize health protocols and adopt a disciplined approach in implementing them, he emphasized. "The first defense is ourselves," he stressed.

The inviolable health protocols encompass wearing face mask, washing hands with soap, or using a hand sanitizer. Physical distancing is also critical to preventing the transmission of the novel coronavirus disease.

"Let us uphold the spirit to lower the number of cases by adhering to the health protocols," Monardo stated.

As many as 15,703 coronavirus patients recovered from the disease until June 16. The number of positive cases burgeoned by 1,017, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 40,400.

Furthermore, with 64 additional deaths, those succumbing to COVID-19 infections reached 2,231. (ANTARA)