VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia on Sunday reported 6,528 fresh COVID-19 cases over a 24-hour period, which brought the total case tally to 713,365 since the country announced its first infections on March 2, 2020.

As per data of the National Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, the number of recoveries increased by 6,983 in the 24-hour period, taking the total number of patients recovering from the virus to 583,676.

The country also reported 243 fatalities across the nation, which brought the death toll to 21,237.

The total number of suspected cases per today stood at 69,325. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected 510 districts and cities across the country's 34 provinces.

The health authorities examined specimens of 41,963 people, bringing the cumulative number of specimens examined so far to 7,124,513. Jakarta contributed the highest number of cases at 1,997, followed by West Java (892), Central Java (785), East Java (738), South Sulawesi (262), East Kalimantan (200), Yogyakarta (183), Banten (150), Riau (117), and Bengkulu (100).

Central Java reported the most deaths per day at 80, followed by East Java 48 deaths, West Java 43, and Jakarta 22 deaths.

Jakarta also contributed the highest number of recoveries at 1,832, followed by West Java (1,172), South Sulawesi (942), Central Java (601), and East Java (592).

The capital city's cumulative case count stood at 175,926, followed by East Java (80,748), West Java (79,590), Central Java (77,793), and South Sulawesi (29,125).

Jakarta's total recoveries reached 158,536, East Java 68,981, and West Java 66,365, as well as South Sulawesi (24,233).

Meanwhile, the highest number of deaths occurred in East Java (5,583), followed by Central Java (3,247), Jakarta (3,189), West Java (1,157), and East Kalimantan (721). (antaranews)

The Indonesian military (TNI) has readied a Hercules plane to transport Jayapura residents keen on returning home to Wamena to ring in Christmas.

"It is true that we have readied a TNI AU (Indonesian Air Force) Hercules plane to transport residents keen to celebrate Christmas in Wamena," Commander of the Silas Papare Air Base Commodore Budhi Achmadi stated here on Wednesday.

The air transport assistance was a response to a request put forth by Chief of the Interreligious Harmony Communication Forum (FKUB) of the Papua Chapter Priest Lipius Binilux to TNI Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.

The Hercules plane began transporting Wamena-bound travelers free of charge on Wednesday.

Owing of the limited capacity, the plane only transported residents, who have received a recommendation from the FKUB. The residents are mandated to follow health protocols by securing a COVID-19-free certificate.

"The CC-130 Hercules plane has been readied to transport the residents. In total, the plane will fly from Jayapura to Wamena six times until Thursday.

Chief of FKUB for Papua Lipius Binilux lauded the assistance that enabled the residents to celebrate Christmas in their hometown.

"I express gratitude and appreciation for the assistance that helps reduce the burden of residents wishing to celebrate Christmas along with their families," he added. (Antaranews)

Public discipline has been declining in terms of the observance of COVID-19 health protocols in nearly all Indonesian regions, according to chief of the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, Lt.Gen Doni Monardo.

This has sparked an increase in new infections, he said at an online talk show on the post-pandemic outlook for Indonesia, here on Thursday.

"Public discipline in almost all regions has shown a decline. In early November, public adherence to (the rule on) wearing face masks had reached 86.18 percent, but in the next few weeks, it started to decline," Monardo noted.

The task force pegged public adherence to the rule on wearing masks at 80.48 percent on December 24, 2020, while discipline in maintaining physical distancing fell to 76.87 percent from 81.87 percent in November.

"We have to understand that the government cannot work alone. It needs massive movement involving all components of the society, especially non-formal leaders who have direct influence over the public," Monardo observed.

He said he believes the country will be able to win the battle against the coronavirus if all parties work jointly. In East Java, the number of novel coronavirus infections dropped sharply in November this year due to the efforts of the provincial and district administrations and volunteers, he pointed out.

"There is only one key to reduce the cases: (maintain) discipline, adhere to health protocols. Because we know how it (the virus) spreads. If we cannot maintain physical distance, wear masks, we can be infected soon," he added.

He then called on the public to adhere to the health protocols.

President Joko Widodo has warned that the availability of COVID-19 vaccine cannot be taken as a guarantee against infection for all people.

"We want people to remain adhere (to the health protocols). It has been nine months and two weeks since we imposed a national quarantine on March 13, 2020. Sixteen provinces have still recorded an increase in new cases, and the cases in 18 provinces have declined. They (Infections) have increased in most regions in Java," Monardo informed. (Antaranews)

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman Bambang Soesatyo praised the police for foiling an attempt to smuggle 201 kilograms crystal methamphetamine into Jakarta and divert proceeds from its sale to finance terrorism in the Middle East.

"I also appeal to the police to conduct comprehensive investigation in connection with the culprits, including the drug lord, to uncover the main network and break the chain of drug smuggling," Soesatyo noted in a written statement released on Thursday.

Moreover, the MPR chairman urged the police to take action against all people involved in the attempt to smuggle the contraband in accordance with Law No. 35 of 2009 on narcotics.

Soesatyo called for unwavering commitment from the National Police (Pori) and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to combat the abuse of narcotics in the country.

"One of the steps is to intensify security and increase the number of personnel in areas prone to drug smuggling, bearing in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic poses a distinct challenge for personnel to remain focused on and committed to combating narcotics," he affirmed.

The Golkar Party politician also encouraged the police and military to stay alert for radicalism and terrorism, especially in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year celebrations. (Antaranews)