VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Bio Farma explained the stages of creating a vaccine. Head of Corporate Communications of Bio Farma, Iwan Setiawan, said that phase three of the clinical trials for making the Covid-19 vaccine aims to ensure the benefits of the vaccine.

"This is related to benefits, whether it produces antibodies or not," he toldTempo, Wednesday, July 23.

Iwan said there are at least four stages that must be passed in vaccine production. The first stage is Pre-clinical, which is testing the vaccine on animals. Once the animal testing stage is passed, it proceeds to Phase 1 until 3 of the Clinical Trials.

"Phase one is related to safety, to ensure that the vaccine has no side effects and so on. Stage two is related to dossiers; how much is the dose, which is also a safety aspect, "Iwan said.

Iwan revealed that Sinovac Biotech, a pharmaceutical company from China, has conducted all of those phases. Bio Farma took part in Phase 3 of Clinical Trials, which is also done in Brazil, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Indonesia. "The results must be the same," he said.

Iwan said that in the development of the Covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac, Bio Farma acts as the sponsor for Phase 3 Clinical Trials in Indonesia. Bio Farma appointed Padjadjaran University's Faculty of Medicine, as an independent institution, to conduct clinical trials.

Clinical testing will be carried out by sampling 1,620 subjects, selected based on certain criteria, including age criteria of 18 to 59 years.

Vaccine development is one of Bio Farma's five scenarios to participate in handling the spread of Covid-19. Simultaneously, Bio Farma is also preparing Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), Covalent Plasma Therapy, BSL 3 Mobile Laboratory, and Manufacturing Viral Transport Media (VTM). (tempo.co)

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo delivered thousands of food packages to the people affected by the flash floods that hit North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi.

The aid was channeled directly by the Presidential Secretariat team along with the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) at the disaster relief post in Baebunta District on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.

A total of 3,000 food packages were symbolically handed over to the North Luwu Regent, Indah Putri Indriani. The event was attended by North Luwu Legislative Council (DPRD) Speaker Basir and the Military Resort Command (Korem) 142/Taroada Tarogau commander Brig. Gen. Firman Dahlan.

In total, 10,000 food packages were delivered, consisting of 5 kilograms of rice, one-liter cooking oil, 1 kilogram of sugar, and 1 box of teabags. In addition, the government delivered 900 aid packages loaded with blankets, sarongs, milk, adult towels, and baby diapers.

The high-intensity of rainfall on Monday, July 13, caused rivers in the area to overflow, damaging houses and public facilities, as well as blocking the road access.

Based on data from the North Luwu Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the flash flood killed at least 38 people. Besides, nine people went missing and 106 people were injured. A total of 14,483 people or 3,627 households were evacuated. (tempo.co)

The latest update on COVID-19 in Indonesia sees Jakarta with 382 new cases today, July 22. The additional cases bring the capital's tally to 17,535, with 11,187 recoveries and 766 deaths.

"As per today we can report that 1,205 patients are still treated in hospitals and 4,377 are in self-isolation (including data from Wisma Atlet),” said Dwi Oktavia Tatri, head of disease prevention and control at the Jakarta Health Office.

Dwi added that there are 877 suspects of Covid-19 in self-isolation, while 1,379 are treated in hospitals.

There are also 7,159 people recorded to have been in close contact with confirmed cases. They are also in self-quarantine.  

Jakarta's highest daily number of cases was 441, which was on July 21. During the eases restriction period, known locally as 'PSBB transisi', Jakarta is seeing upticks in new cases, with new records on July 8 (344), July 11 (359), and July 12 (404). (tempo.co)

Masked officers stand guard at the entrance of Kelor Island in Komodo National Park, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara province on Saturday (July 18, 2020). (ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha/sw)

Tourists planning to visit Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park in the new normal period will need to register online through a certified, local travel agent, the Tourism Bureau of West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, stated.

“During the new normal (period), we (will) limit (the number of) tourists visiting Labuan Bajo as well as Komodo National Park. Hence, everyone (planning to visit the areas will) have to first secure online registration,” head of the bureau, Agustinus Rinus, told ANTARA on Wednesday.

“They will also need to choose an official travel agent who is registered on our database, (and) who has an office here in Labuan Bajo. Other than that, they would not be permitted (to visit the areas),” he elaborated, adding that the measure has been taken to help travel agents sustain their businesses.

The bureau plans to allow up to 25 tourists a day with a view to curb coronavirus transmission. Tourists can register themselves on https://booking.labuanbajoflores.id/.

“Boats entering tourism spots will also be limited. Here, the online registration would help us to record, (and) avoid boat crowding at each spot,” Rinus noted.

The Tourism Bureau of West Manggarai has allowed Labuan Bajo Tourism Authorities and the Komodo National Park Office to reopen in three phases. The first phase began on July 6, 2020, with the areas throwing their gates open to local tourists only.

In the second phase, the two tourist spots will allow domestic visitors, and in the last phase, domestic as well as international tourists will be allowed entry into the areas, with the implementation of health protocols. (ANTARA)