VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 8 - The number of COVID-19 recoveries in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, touched 337,426, or 96.3 percent of its total 350,425 confirmed cases, as of March 7, or a year since the government announced its first COVID-19 cases.

The capital city recorded 1,809 other recoveries in a single day on Sunday, thereby increasing the total number of recoveries, from 335,617 to 337,426.

The number of active cases dropped by 17, thereby bringing the total active cases to 7,209, from 7,226 on the previous day.

The city has, so far, recorded a total of 350,425 confirmed COVID-19 cases, while the death toll stood at 5,790.

Meanwhile, the number of Indonesians receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine increased by 127,492 to reach 2,413,615 as of Friday afternoon, according to the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling. Some 14,309 additional people received the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, thereby bringing the total count to 1,114,537 since the country rolled out the vaccination campaign on January 13, 2021.

Indonesia reported 6,971 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6,331 recoveries in the 24 hours ending 12 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB) on Friday.

In total, the number of COVID-19 cases reached 1,368,069, while the number of recoveries were recorded at 1,182,687 as of Friday.

With 129 more deaths, the number of fatalities due to COVID-19 stood at 37,026.

The number of suspected cases reached 66,546, while laboratory examinations were conducted on 36,107 specimens to detect the virus. The number of active cases, or patients under treatment, rose by 511 to reach 148,356.

The government is aiming to vaccinate 181,554,465 people, or 70 percent of the total populace of Indonesia, to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. (Antaranews)

Mar. 8 - The Bali COVID-19 Task Force personnel have begun vaccinating traditional market traders in Badung District to prevent potential spread of COVID-19 among merchants and buyers.

The local traders have been inoculated since Saturday as observed in Bualu and Jimbaran markets, Deputy Head of Badung District I Ketut Suiasa told journalists here Sunday.

"Traditional market traders are in our priority list for COVID-19 vaccination because they interact with community members at the markets," he said.

This vaccination program is expected to halt new clusters of COVID-19 in the district, he said, adding that the vaccination program would be continued in other markets.

Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has recently highlighted the importance of vaccination program in Bali to revive the island's tourism sector.

At his meeting with Bali Governor Wayan Koster on February 11, Uno said vaccinating 1.2 million workers in Bali's tourism sector would boost public trust in the world's most popular tourist destination.

"We pray for Bali's immediate recovery. If the tourism sector can get revived, the economy will get back on track. Speaking of Indonesia's tourism, it will never be separated from Bali," he remarked.

Indonesia has been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since the government officially announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.

In winning its fight against the coronavirus disease, it has launched a national vaccination program.

According the Health Ministry, it would take 15 months to vaccinate around 181.5 million people under the vaccination program.

Since January 26, 2021, Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate has exceeded one million cases.

To attain herd immunity and free the nation from the clutches of the pandemic, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has stressed on the need for successfully administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the targeted population.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease has dragged Indonesia into serious public health and economic crises.

Tourism has been among the severely-affected economic sectors in the country, and Bali tourism has been badly battered by the pandemic. (Antaranews)

Mar. 8 - The Social Affairs Ministry's relief aid packages for those affected by acts of terror unleashed by armed Papuan groups had arrived in Timika, Papua Province, on Saturday.

The ministry's humanitarian aid packages worth Rp172.3 million were transported by Garuda Indonesia, Head of the Papua Social Affairs Office Ribka Haluk said here Sunday.

"The relief aid packages have directly been flown by a charter flight to Intan Jaya District to be then distributed to those in need," she said.

The Social Affairs Ministry's aid packages comprise 660 packaged food boxes, 420 kid food packs, 100 folding tents, 200 folding mattresses, and 300 blankets, she added.

The Papua provincial administration is making efforts to restore normalcy in Intan Jaya, which has witnessed a spate in violence against civilians and security personnel in the past two years.

Intan Jaya recorded its bloodiest month in September, 2020, with notorious armed groups launching a series of attacks in the area that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilians and left two others injured.

The government has launched emergency response measures to address the impact of the most recent instances of armed conflict, which have forced around 600 locals to flee their homes.

During a meeting in provincial capital Jayapura last month, Papua Deputy Governor Klemen Tinal said the handling of locals taking refuge for safety reasons would be the government's priority, he said.

Meanwhile, at the meeting, deputy head of Intan Jaya district, Yan Kobogoyau, said conditions in the district had been improving and many refugees had gradually returned home.

The Papua provincial government is expected to take strategic measures to restore normalcy in Intan Jaya, he added.

The Papua provincial administration has also distributed relief aid packages to prevent several hundred residents who have fled their homes amid safety concerns from falling into hunger.

The Papua Social Affairs Office has provided 120 tonnes of rice, 13 thousand instant noodle packs, one ton of sugar, and one thousand cans of sardines.

The Papua Social Affairs Office has also provided 30 velbeds, 50 family kits, 50 foodware packages, 80 wool blankets, 100 mattresses, and 126 kitchen sets to refugees. (Antaranews)

Mar. 8 - The Midwest chapter of the Indonesian Student Association in the United States of America (PERMIAS) held a fundraiser competition for children in Indonesia, rising 600 US dollars in total.

The Amazing Midwest Race event was held virtually due to the pandemic on Saturday (March 6) not only as a fundraising event, but also for Indonesian students across the Midwest and across the US to gather online, along with those in Germany and France who also participated in the event.

"The spirit of the event is connection and communication. The spirit for giving back to Indonesia," said Head of PERMIAS Chicago Phoebe Liandyartha cited in the statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago, Sunday.

"COVID-19 hit everyone with no exception, we would like to help ease the burden of those who are in need, as much as we can." Liandyartha said.

The event took after a similar concept of 'The Amazing Race' competition on television, adapted to virtual meeting rooms. Each of the 25 teams participating moved from one virtual meeting rooms to another to complete a set of challenges.

The challenges all had correlations to Indonesia, making the competition unique, from trivia on the name of places, singing cultural songs, to emulating traditional dance moves. Through this competition, the students also raised a donation of 600 US dollars which will be distributed to the NGO Project Child Indonesia to support their two projects, namely the Beach School and River School, which aims to provide educational assistance to children in need in riverside and coastal areas in Indonesia.

The Consul for Information and Socio-Culture from the Consulate General of Indonesia in Chicago, Benny Kurnia Rahman, said that the unique ways and creativity of the students should be appreciated. Online meetings, which are usually held for meetings and seminars, this time were conjured up by students for fun and educational activities.

By taking the Indonesian theme, the participants could get to know their country more deeply and have a feel of home. Additionally, there is also a moral message to maintain and develop a sense of empathy and care for others, an important asset in developing the character of the nation's future generation.

The momentum of the activity at the beginning of the year is also fitting for maintaining friendship and re-cultivating the togetherness of Indonesian students located throughout the Midwest region.

"As fellow national ambassadors, we have a similar mission, namely introducing Indonesia to the US society, as well as building networks, good relations and bonds between Indonesia and the US," he said.

PERMIAS has been an important partner of the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago and other Indonesian representatives wherever they are. He emphasized that this togetherness is very important in the future collaboration with the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago. (Antaranews)