VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Spokesperson for the COVID-19 task force, Wiku Adisasmito. (ANTARA/Dewanto Samodro)

The number of red zones, or areas with a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, declined in the past week in Indonesia, while the number of orange zones, or areas with low infection risk, increased.

The data was revealed by the national COVID-19 task force on Tuesday.

The number of high-risk districts/cities fell to 29 as of August 16, 2020 compared to a week earlier, spokesperson for the COVID-19 task force, Wiku Adisasmito, said in an online press conference at the presidential palace here on Tuesday.

He said the number of districts/cities with a moderate risk of infection rose to 237 compared to the previous week, while there was a rise in the number of low-risk areas turning into moderate risk areas.

Meanwhile, 174 districts/cities were still classified as low-risk areas or yellow zones, a decline compared to the previous week. The number of areas which saw no new COVID-19 cases in the past week, or green zones, stood at 42, while 32 districts/cities were declared free of the disease.

“It is worth noting that 18 high-risk districts/cities turned into moderate-risk zones in the past week. This is good development. However, at the same, some 49 low-risk districts/cities turned into moderate-risk zones,” Adisasmito said.

He said the number of moderate-risk zones continued to increase over the past few weeks. From July 12 to July 19 this year, the number of moderate risk zones accounted for 32.8 percent of the zones. Their prevalence increased to 35.99 percent between July 19 - 26, 2020, 43 percent between July 26 and August 2, climbed to 43.19 percent from August 2-9, and rose further to 46.11 percent from August 9-16, 2020.

The increase in the number of orange zones is worth noting, he added. (ANTARA)

Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto presents compensation to a family member of deceased health workers. ANTARA/HO-Health Ministry

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto handed out cash compensation, emblematic of the state’s appreciation and respect, to the families of health workers that died while fulfilling duties to handle the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

"In accordance with President Joko Widodo’s directive, I was called upon to directly deliver the compensation to the families," the minister noted in a press release from the Ministry of Health here on Tuesday.

Putranto expressed deep condolences to the fallen heroes and prayed that the families left behind were given the strength to tide through these difficult times.

The minister also expressed hope that the compensation would be beneficial to them.

"I really feel deeply saddened for their loss. I hope that the compensation from the president would be useful for the families of health workers, who had died. They are the health heroes of the nation and state," he emphasized.

The government offered Rp300 million worth of compensation to the families of the fallen heroes.

"Let us pray that this non-natural disaster will soon pass and our lives would return to normalcy as before. To this end, let us synchronize our steps by synergizing all national components to suppress the transmission of COVID-19 by implementing health protocols in a disciplined manner," Putranto reiterated.

The health minister thanked and lauded health workers for their dedication and services in handling the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

Until August 11, 2020, the Ministry of Health had distributed Rp843 billion in incentives for health workers involved in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incentives paid from the central government surpass Rp510 billion from the ceiling of Rp1.9 trillion and regional incentives of more than Rp333 billion from the ceiling of Rp3.7 trillion.

Meanwhile, the government has also allocated compensation worth Rp60 billion for some 200 health workers, who lost their lives while fulfilling their duties. (ANTARA)

Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin delivered a speech during the commemoration of National Constitution Day organized virtually by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) here on Tuesday.

In his remarks, the Vice President affirmed that the commemoration of Constitution Day, organized annually, is an opportunity to assess the activities of all elements of the nation in implementing the Constitution.

"This commemoration is an important moment to evaluate and reflect on what we have done as a nation and state in fulfilling the constitutional mandates," Amin stated from his official residence.

The evaluation can be performed by reopening the records of activities conducted by all state administrators and implementing the planned programs, according to Amin.

"I would like to invite us, as state administrators, to jointly see where we are today, to reopen our records about what we have done to this day, and what things still need to be resolved," he remarked.

Amin pointed out that COVID-19 had affected the resilience and ability of Indonesian people to conduct development activities, particularly in the field of public welfare, including the health and education sectors.

"The COVID-19 outbreak, which was originally a health problem, has now caused disruption to social life, culture, worship and religious activities, the community's economy, and also state finances," he pointed out.

However, the vice president has called upon Indonesians to continue to harbor a spirit of optimism that the nation would be able to safely and successfully survive and surmount over the ordeals.

Meanwhile, MPR Speaker Bambang Soesatyo affirmed that a Constitution held significance for a country and regulated matters fundamental to the nation.

Hence, for Indonesia, the commemoration of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, on August 17, is an integral part of the commemoration of Constitution Day on August 18, 1945.

"Without a Constitution, a state will never be born, which means the birth of a country is very close and an integral part of the country's Constitution," he affirmed.

The commemoration of 2020 Constitution Day was held at the MPR/DPR building in Senayan, with attendees including Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD. (ANTARA)

President Director of Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), M. Rohanudin launched a collection of rhyme and poetry "Speak Kindly" at the Poetry Appreciation Night  held at the Auditorium of RRI Jakarta on Monday night (17/8).  The collection of rhyme  and poetry received appreciation from a number of figures, one of them is the Chairman of the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri.  He said  when he read it, his national spirit arose.  Meanwhile, Chairman of Commission I of the house of Representative (DPR)  Meutya Hafidz also appreciated Rohanudin's poetry. She said that finding out solutions of national problems is not enough by politics, but also by  works of art// (kbrn/ TRANS:AF)