VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Semarang Zoo in Central Java has reopened its gates to the public after being closed for several months due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Semarang Mayor Hendrar Prihadi inaugurated the zoo’s reopening on Wednesday as part of an effort to revitalize local tourism. Amid the excitement, Hendrar called on the sector’s stakeholders to implement strict health protocols and limit the number of visitors.

“Once again, I shall stress that the activities […] must be done in compliance with [President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s] procedures,” he said during his visit to Semarang Zoo as quoted by tribunnews.com.

To mark the significance of the occasion, Hendrar named a couple of newborn tigers Covi and Vivid, in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the animals were born.

“This serves as a reminder that two tigers were born at Semarang Zoo amid the pandemic. Let us pray that they will grow up to become big and healthy tigers,” he said.

With the arrival of the 3-month-old cubs, Semarang Zoo is now home to a total of 286 animals of 68 different species.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Central Java had recorded 6,346 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 543 deaths linked to the disease. (the Jakarta Post)

 

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday afternoon invited representatives of small and micro traders to the Bogor Presidential Palace to receive direct government assistance in a program specifically to help microenterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The government program will see 12 million of these microenterprises - street traders up to household businesses - be handed Rp2.4 million each as working capital. 

At the meeting, Jokowi spent most of the time personally motivating the traders to survive the difficult times.

“The additional working capital will be allocated to 12 million micro traders across the nation, and the ladies and gentlemen currently present are the lucky firsts to receive it,” said Jokowi in opening the meeting held at the palace’s yard to abide by physical distancing measures.

During the event, the president said that he received reports that small and micro traders sustained financial losses up to 50 percent compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He also used the intimate moment with the traders to accommodate their complaints and open a discussion that would help lift the spirit of the group. 

Rescuing small and micro-businesses had always been one of President Jokowi’s main focuses that were mentioned in a limited meeting held in June. At the time, the president pushed for an economic stimulus worth Rp695.2 trillion that would be able to be directly felt by businesses in general that is contained in the national economic recovery plan or PEN. (tempo.co)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday afternoon invited representatives of small and micro traders to the Bogor Presidential Palace to receive direct government assistance in a program specifically to help microenterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The government program will see 12 million of these microenterprises - street traders up to household businesses - be handed Rp2.4 million each as working capital. 

At the meeting, Jokowi spent most of the time personally motivating the traders to survive the difficult times.

“The additional working capital will be allocated to 12 million micro traders across the nation, and the ladies and gentlemen currently present are the lucky firsts to receive it,” said Jokowi in opening the meeting held at the palace’s yard to abide by physical distancing measures.

During the event, the president said that he received reports that small and micro traders sustained financial losses up to 50 percent compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He also used the intimate moment with the traders to accommodate their complaints and open a discussion that would help lift the spirit of the group. 

Rescuing small and micro-businesses had always been one of President Jokowi’s main focuses that were mentioned in a limited meeting held in June. At the time, the president pushed for an economic stimulus worth Rp695.2 trillion that would be able to be directly felt by businesses in general that is contained in the national economic recovery plan or PEN. (tempo.co)

The Indonesian government’s COVID-19 mitigation spokesperson, Achmad Yurianto, on Wednesday said that the rapid test result will remain as a requirement for people who travel across provincial borders. 

“Are diagnosis needed in traveling? [It] only needs screening,” said Yurianto to Tempo on Wednesday, July 15. 

His statement follows the regulation issued by Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto on the rapid testing that is no longer recommended to diagnose COVID-19 cases. This is contained in the Health Minister’s Decree No. HK.01.07/MENKES/413/2020. 

The aforementioned regulation oversees the use of rapid test equipment for specific situations such as a contact-tracing tool. The World Health Organization itself has recommended NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) over the rapid test method. 

“It’s clearly not to diagnose, but rather as screening purposes,” said Yurianto. (tempo.co)