Livestream
Special Interview
Video Streaming
Program Highlight (3001)
PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
more news
August
Health Ministry: Third vaccine dose for health workers only
Written by Nur Yasmin
Spokesperson for the Health Ministry's COVID-19 Vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi stressed the third vaccine dose or booster shot will only be available to health workers, in line with the recommendations of the Indonesian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI).
"The public will not get the third vaccine dose," she affirmed, during an online press conference held on Monday.
Tarmizi said the Moderna vaccine, which has become the booster shot for health workers, can now also be given to the unvaccinated public but with certain requirements.
"Vaccines are only given to the public for the first and second doses. Only health workers directly working in health facilities can receive a third dose," she again stressed.
Vaccines are utilized to meet the needs of two doses while considering several conditions, she added.
Firstly, the vaccine contains a frozen suspension with one vial containing a maximum of 15 doses (IP=14), and secondly, it is given at two doses (@ 0.5 ml) to those aged 18 and over through intramuscular injection at an interval of four weeks from the first to the second doses, Tarmizi explained.
The delivered vaccines should be directly divided into the first and second doses, with the first dose being stored in a refrigerator at a predetermined temperature, she further said.
"Matters related to the management of cold chain and vaccination services should be implemented in accordance with technical instructions, provisions and regulations," she pointed out.
In addition to the third dose for health workers and various types of vaccines for the public, Tarmizi said the ministry issued a circular to speed up the vaccination drive and reach as many people as possible.
This process will start with the vaccination of children aged 12 to 17 with the Sinovac vaccine, followed by the vaccination of pregnant women, to the screening form adjustment, she noted.
The acceleration of the vaccination campaign is also supported by many parties, including the private sector. "We cooperate with the private sector to manage vaccination centers and provide shuttle services via online taxis," she said. (antaranews)
August
Health Ministry: 88 million doses vaccine doses provided to community
Written by Nur Yasmin
Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, said around 88 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been provided to Indonesia’s target population from early August 2021.
"Of the 400 million vaccine doses needed, almost 25 percent have been provided," she stated, during her health broadcast released on YouTube by RRI Net Official here on Monday.
Tarmizi noted there are currently six brands of vaccines available in the country, with five being produced by foreign manufacturers and one domestically made. The vaccines include Sinovac, Moderna, Sinopharm, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, as well as the Bio Farma vaccine.
Tarmizi stressed Indonesia received its first batch of Pfizer vaccines on Thursday, 19th August, numbering 1.5 million doses out of the 50 million ordered.
"In addition, we have received 450,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses. On Friday, 20th August, we received an additional 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccines, completing the number of vaccine doses required to inoculate our target of 208 million people," she further said.
Indonesia has a secure supply of COVID-19 vaccines, totaling 170 million doses received, with some being used to vaccinate target categories, she further added.
Tarmizi stated the government is continuing to work hard to accelerate the second phase of its vaccination campaign, which targets people over the age of 12.
"This is no different from the first phase, which had its priorities, but now those over the age of 12 can also get vaccinated," she further said.
The increase in the number of vaccines in the country also encourages the efforts to vaccinate the general public, which is expected to reach 2 million doses per day, she explained.
"The number of vaccines we are receiving is increasing. Previously, it was only 10 million, 15 million, 20 million doses, but in August 2021, we will receive a total of 70 million vaccine doses, of which we can use approximately 40 to 30 million," she confirmed.
In September 2021, Indonesia will again receive the same amount of vaccine shipments, and even up to December 2021, it could reach 80 million doses, she stressed, concluding, "This will become important. As soon as the vaccine is available, we must increase the doses injected per day." (Antaranews)
August
Rp11.1 trillion projects ran during pandemic in Jakarta
Written by Nur Yasmin
Nearly 382 work packages with a budget ceiling of Rp11.1 trillion were still running in Jakarta during the COVID-19 pandemic until August 18, 2021, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has noted. "All packages are running because there is a mandate from the Minister of Home Affairs' Instruction that construction activities are critical and can operate 100 percent," Director of Construction Services Development of the PUPR Ministry Putut Marhayudi said in a discussion about construction during the pandemic here on Monday.
The value of the budget ceiling of the work package in Jakarta was around 8.5 percent of the total budget ceiling throughout Indonesia which reached Rp130.22 trillion with 5,362 work packages, he explained.
The categories of work packages include construction work, consulting services and other services and goods.
"The number of packages is quite large in conditions such as these. We must pay attention together because we are still in a pandemic situation. There are still public activity restrictions that affect the implementation of work in the field," he said.
In addition, the handling of the COVID-19 emergency hospital was also conducted through five hospitals in Jakarta out of a total of 33 in several cities in Indonesia.
The 33 hospitals added a capacity of 2,811 hospital beds and 5,989 beds in isolation rooms.
Putut Marhayudi hoped that the spending would boost the community's economic growth to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is one of the priority efforts to accelerate economic recovery and social reform.
"We must ensure that state spending related to infrastructure development can contribute to positive growth for the community's economy," he said. (Antaranews)
August
Bali's Ngurah Rai airport has imposed PCR test price cap at Rp495,000
Written by Nur Yasmin
State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I disclosed that the authority of Ngurah Rai International Airport in the resort island of Bali has imposed a newly-standardized price cap for individually-requested PCR tests at Rp495,000.
The price cap for these real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests has been made effective since August 19, 2021, PT AP I General Manager at Ngurah Rai International Airport Herry A.Y. Sikado said.
Ngurah Rai International Airport which is located in Badung District or about 13 km away from Denpasar, the capital of Bali Province, is one of 13 airports managed by AP I in central and eastern parts of Indonesia.
The airport authority imposes this newly-standardized price ceiling for the RT-PCR tests to follow up on the Health Ministry's circular No.02.02/I/2845/2021 dated on August 16, 2021, he said here Saturday.
The price ceiling is expected to help minimize air passengers' expenses, and have a positive impact on the air transport services, he said.
The RT-PCR tests are served to travelers at the domestic arrival terminal's public area as a result of the airport authority's collaboration with the Bali Jimbaran Public Hospital, he said.
The airport's COVID-19 testing booth also serves those in need of rapid antigen tests by paying Rp200,000. Both the PCR and antigen test results have been integrated into the Health Ministry's PeduliLindungi App.
Sikado urges travelers wanting to take the COVID-19 swab and antigen tests to consider their flight schedules.
President Joko Widodo had recently requested that the ceiling for individually-requested PCR tests be set at between Rp450 thousand and Rp550 thousand.
He had also asked that the results of swab tests be issued within 24 hours of testing.
The government's price cap for individually-requested PCR tests was earlier set at Rp900 thousand.
Following the President's request, the Health Ministry issued Circular Letter No.HK.02.02/I/2845/2021 on the new RT-PCR test price ceiling on August 16, 2021.
The ministry's circular has capped the price for individually-requested RT-PCR tests at Rp495 thousand in Java and Bali and Rp525 thousand in regions outside the two islands.
ANTARA had earlier reported that the government had set the price cap for individually-requested PCR tests at Rp900 thousand, and rapid antigen tests at Rp250 thousand for the island of Java and Rp275 thousand for areas outside Java.
Coronavirus infections initially emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, and then spread to various parts of the world, including to countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Indonesian government announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.
Since then, the central and regional governments have made persistent efforts to flatten the coronavirus curve by imposing healthcare protocols as well as social and travel restrictions. (Antaranews)
August
Govt intensifies vaccination to achieve herd immunity: SOE minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir asserted that the government would continue to intensify COVID-19 vaccination in a bid to achieve national herd immunity.
"As you can see, the government has done its utmost to speed up vaccination program to achieve herd immunity. We continue to intensify (the vaccination)," Thohir said in a statement obtained here.
The minister has observed three vaccination centers in Central Java and East Java opened simultaneously on Sunday.
The government, he said, has involved the military and police, state-owned enterprises, and local administrations in the vaccination drives.
He called on the public to give positive response to the efforts to stem COVID-19 transmission by participating in the mass vaccination.
Some cabinet ministers presented in the occasion including Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.
The "Merdeka" vaccination drive in Cepu, Central Java, has involved state-owned companies PT Pertamina, Jasa Raharja and Telkom as well as Central Java's Transportation Office, the Brawijaya Military Command, and the Central Java Police.
Two other vaccination centers are in Bojonegoro, East Java, that involved state-owned port and harbour services company Pelindo III, East Java Transportation Office, and Brawijaya Military Command.
"The involvement of the central government, state-owned companies, and other institutions is a form of common responsibilities in line with President Joko Widodo's guidance," Thohir said.
As many as 15 thousand vaccines were prepared for mass vaccination in the three locations.
The centers would serve local residents including senior citizens and students, as well as workers at public service offices and Cepu oil and gas wells.
The government has targeted to curb the COVID-19 virus effective reproduction number (Rt) to less than one and positivity rate to below five percent. (Antaranews)
August
Jakarta classified as COVID-19 green zone: Deputy Governor
Written by Nur Yasmin
Deputy Governor of Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria said the capital city has been classified as COVID-19 green zone, following the declining number of COVID-19 cases and acceleration of vaccination drive.
"Alhamdulillah (Thank God) Jakarta has entered the green zone and achieved herd immunity. However, we ask for all residents to remain discipline in implementing health protocols," he said while observing the vaccination drive in South Jakarta's Al-Azhar Grand Mosque, Sunday.
Even though Jakarta has been classified as a green zone, he said, the public must remain consistent in implementing strict health protocols in order to prevent an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Furthermore, residents who have not been vaccinated are also asked to immediately get the vaccine at the nearest vaccination center, so that the target could be achieved.
He further said that the provincial government is currently seeking to increase the vaccination target to 11 million, from initially 8.8 million people, considering that some 40 percent of non-Jakarta residents got their vaccine shots in the capital city.
The target is expected to be reached within the next few weeks, he added.
Based on data from corona.jakarta.go.id, as of Sunday at 1 p.m. Western Indonesia time, the number of active cases in Jakarta reached 8,764, indicating a decrease of 44 people from the previous day.
The number is expected to continue to decline hence public activities in the city can return to normal soon.
"Stay at home. Maintain discipline and abide by the level 4 mobility restrictions with a full sense of responsibility. Make health protocols part of our daily need,” he said. (Antaranews)
August
Communication Ministry shares tips on filtering hoaxes
Written by nuke
Communication Ministry shares tips on filtering hoaxes -
The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) has shared a number of tips for the public to filter and prevent the spread of hoaxes and disinformation in the digital space.
One trick to discern the validity of any information is to determine whether it is too good to be true or too bad to be true, the ministry's public information and communication director general, Usman Kansong, said in a press statement issued here on Saturday.
"That is what we need to be aware of. There are plenty of examples, like every time someone donates a large amount of aid, we need to be suspicious whether it is too good to be true," he explained.
While the suspicion may not yet be proven, at the very least, our internal alarm will be triggered, he said.
He also outlined another way to identify hoaxes.
"If there is a word, 'spread it', that is what we need to be wary of. Especially if it's written in all capital, that is what we need to be suspicious of. Do not just share without filtering it," he advised.
The director general also asked citizens to research the validity of any information through trusted official media or internet search engines.
"If nobody is reporting it, then it is not true. But we still need to check, recheck, and cross-check it with the mainstream media," he said.
According to Kansong, orchestration and single narratives have been optimized to prevent the spread of hoaxes and misleading information in the public.
However, citizens need to be taught the skill to be able to selectively filter information received through digital platforms, he said//ANT
August
Air Force's successful evacuation of Indonesians should be emulated
Written by nuke
Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo (Right) greets aviator corps and aircrew involved in the evacuation operation of Indonesian citizens in Afghanistan at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta, Saturday, August 18, 2021. (ANTARA PHOTO/HO-Air Force's Enlightenment Office/KT) -
The Air Force's success in evacuating Indonesians from Afghanistan should be emulated by other members of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo stated here on Saturday.
Prasetyo remarked that Air Force units involved in the evacuation process had demonstrated professionalism despite little preparation time.
"I am very proud of all of you because with such quick preparation, you were able to show professionalism. This is a matter of pride for the soldiers, who successfully executed their operational duties and returned safely," Prasetyo stated at the apron of the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase, as quoted from his written statement.
He expressed optimism that professionalism would be exemplified by other members of the Indonesian Air Force.
"Even in uncertain conditions, the soldiers can perform their operating duties very well. This should be an example for the others," he emphasized.
The humanitarian operation evacuated 26 Indonesian citizens along with five Filipino nationals and two Afghan nationals from Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, aboard a Military Air Force Boeing 737 series 400 Air Squadron 17 from the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase. The evacuation aircraft was flying with a "Kencana (Gold) Zero Four" signal.
Meanwhile, soldiers of the Air Force involved in the evacuation belonged to the Specialized Force Corps of the Bravo Detachment 90.
The aircraft, carrying the evacuees, was flown by Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Corps Ludwig Bayu and Major Aviator Corps Mulyo and accompanied by six flight crew members on duty: Captain Aviator Corps Sang Made K Y, First Lieutenant Aviator Corps R P Pratama A, First Lieutenant Aviator Corps Andhika, Second Lieutenant of Engineering Suparno, Second Lieutenant of Engineering Yusuf Affandi, Second Lieutenant Andromeda, Chief Sergeant Priyan Wahyu, Chief Sergeant Riyan Agieta, Chief Sergeant Budi R, and First Private Yulio A.
Meanwhile, six members of the Specialized Force Corps of Bravo Detachment 90 were Captain Pas Galih Pinto Nugroho, Second Sergeant Trenggono, Second Sergeant Yudi Aji Widagdo, Second Corporal Umar Haris, Chief Private Aidil Artawijaya, and Chief Private Ilham Dwi Laksana.
The overall evacuation team comprised TNI (the Indonesian Defense Forces) soldiers, members of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The government decided to use military aircraft to repatriate dozens of Indonesian citizens in Afghanistan to ensure their safety and security, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated during a press conference at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport here on Saturday.
The Air Force aircraft departed from the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport on August 18, 2021, at about 6:00 a.m. local time. However, the landing permit at the Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul was only granted by local authorities on August 20, 2021.
The evacuation process took two hours, longer than the original 30-minute plan.
The route taken by the aircraft was from Jakarta to Aceh Province and then to Colombo in Sri Lanka followed by Karachi and thereafter transited at Islamabad in Pakistan before finally reaching Kabul, Afghanistan.
In Islamabad, evacuation teams waited long for permission to land at Kabul's Hamid Karzai Airport from local authorities.
During takeoff from the Hamid Karzai Airport, the plane landed again in Islamabad for refueling before returning home using the same route: Karachi, Colombo, Aceh, and Jakarta//ANT
August
President: COVID-19 case decline key for economic growth
Written by nuke
President Joko Widodo addresses the East Java Regional Leadership Coordination Forum in Madiun, East Java on Friday (August 20, 2021). ANTARA/HO-Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau -
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said that currently, the key to economic growth lies in the successful suppression of COVID-19 cases.
He made the statement in an instructional video for the East Java Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkompinda), which was broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta on Friday.
He then referred to the decline in COVID-19 cases seen in February-May 2021, saying it had become apparent then that the economy was improving, as reflected by the growth of some sectors.
"Once, we reached high (daily COVID-19 cases) in the beginning of February (2021), and the next May it decreases. If it decreases, it is obviously followed by economic improvement. The economy is growing," Jokowi remarked.
As of mid-May 2021, COVID-19 spread was still under control, as shown by the average of 3,500 cases per day. But soon afterwards, there was a spike in COVID-19 cases, he said.
Some regions, including Kudus, Central Java, and Bangkalan, East Java, were labeled as red zones due to rampant COVID-19 spread, the President pointed out.
"When it (COVID-19 surge) appeared in Kudus, when it appeared in Bangkalan, all of those were beyond our prediction. Because as we see from the detection, there is (some) in Jakarta, Indramayu, and Medan. It emerges in other places, because this thing (COVID-19) can't be seen. (The cases) immediately jumped up to 56 thousand cases," he added.
The President said the COVID-19 spike at the end of May 2021 had compelled him to make a decision to suppress its spread.
"That moment, I told the National Defense Forces Commander and the National Police Chief, there is no other thing to do other than stopping this. Don't let the 80 thousand cases hike up to 160 thousand cases. Once more, be careful about this," he recalled.
He said that to ensure the economy continues to flourish, COVID-19 spread must be controlled.
During February to May 2021, when COVID-19 cases subsided, the economy in East Java had also seemed to improve, Jokowi noted.
It could be seen from the second quarter economic growth in East Java which was at 7.05 percent (yoy), he said.
"The key to economic growth today is reducing COVID-19 cases," the President stressed//ANT
August
Indonesia receives 7.5 million vaccine doses from multiple producers
Written by nuke
An officer at the Soekarno Hatta Airport gives directions for unloading of vaccines received from multiple producers as part of the 41st vaccine delivery, in Cengkareng subdistrict, Jakarta on Friday (August 20, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-The Communication and Informatics Ministry/KT) -
Indonesia received an additional 7.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from multiple manufacturers through bilateral schemes and as assistance from friendly countries on Friday.
"(A total of) 450 thousand doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the form of finished products (was received) from the Netherlands, and 1.5 million doses of Pfizer (were obtained) with a direct purchase scheme by the Indonesian government," state-run pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma Corporate Secretary Bambang Heriyanto said in a written statement received here.
In addition to the two schemes, Indonesia also received supplementary COVID-19 vaccines under bilateral schemes between Bio Farma and vaccine manufacturers Sinovac and AstraZeneca, Heriyanto added.
The Sinovac manufacturer delivered five million finished doses, while 567 thousand doses of AstraZeneca in finished form also arrived in Indonesia on Friday, he informed.
"Since the beginning of August 2021, Indonesia has secured as many as 22,792,480 additional doses of finished vaccines of brands other than Sinovac, such as AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer," he said.
At an online press conference, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the additional 450 thousand doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines from the Netherlands were obtained as a result of the Indonesian government's hard work and diplomacy.
The arrival of the new doses is part of Indonesia's collaboration with the Netherlands to bring three million doses of the vaccine to Indonesia through bilateral dose-sharing mechanism, she informed.
"Therefore, on behalf of the Government of Indonesia, I express my gratitude and appreciation to the Government of the Netherlands for the support of vaccine dose-sharing that has been handed over, as well as (the hope of) closer cooperation in the future," Marsudi said.
With the arrival of four types of vaccines for the government vaccine program, and one type of vaccine for the Gotong Royong vaccination program, the number of COVID-19 vaccines that have been secured by Indonesia has reached 197.6 million doses, comprising 47.9 million doses in the form of finished products and 144.7 million doses in the form of raw materials, she added//ANT