VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The provincial government officials after Jakarta's 493rd anniversary commemoration held at the city hall, Monday, June 22, 2020. (ANTARA/HO-Official Documentation)

A scientific study showed that the COVID-19 reproduction number (R number) in Jakarta had declined, indicative of being brought under control and a present on its 493rd anniversary on June 22, Governor Anies Baswedan stated.

"I had just received a report from the team of the Public Health Faculty of the University of Indonesia (UI) that showed that during the past two weeks under the transition period, the outbreak had been brought under control," Baswedan remarked during the anniversary commemoration at the Jakarta city hall on Monday.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta did not spike as expected since the study shows that today's R value across this provincial area had dropped to 0.98, he pointed out.

On March 16, prior to the government’s enactment of PSBB (the large-scale social distancing), Jakarta had recorded its highest R number value, touching four, while the threshold is 1, based on the assumption that every 100 people infected with COVID-19 would transmit the disease to 400 others.

Before the first period of enactment of PSBB on April 10, the figure had already declined to 1.5, and currently, as it dropped further under one, "it proves the hard work of all Jakartans."

This year's anniversary, bearing the theme "Jakarta Tangguh" (the Tough Jakarta), was chosen by the provincial government since it mirrors the eagerness and perseverance of Jakarta’s residents to fight this pandemic.

"This is such a present for Jakarta's people, as we celebrate the anniversary, since the pandemic that was rampant is currently being brought under control," Baswedan added. (ANTARA)

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. (ANTARA/HO-ppid.jakarta.go.id)

The governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, is optimistic that a virtual celebration to commemorate the capital city’s 493th anniversary, falling on June 22, would offer a new-fangled experience for the community amid the unceasing COVID-19 pandemic.

"This virtual celebration is expected to lend a new experience to the community, as technology will be utilized optimally for social interactions and cultural economic activities, including the experience of city tours, through the use of virtual methods," Baswedan stated at the Jakarta City Hall after holding a welcome ceremony to mark the 493th anniversary of Jakarta on Monday.

Disparate to the anniversary celebrations organized earlier, the Jakarta provincial government decided to not mark Jakarta's anniversary with carnivals or festivals that tend to draw crowds in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor was also upbeat that the events can be accessed virtually and offer a broader understanding of Jakarta to those residing in Indonesia and other countries.

"In syaa Allah (God willing), in future, it would become a medium to introduce Jakarta to the entire Indonesian community and the world," he affirmed.

The 493th anniversary of Jakarta coincidentally also marks the success achieved by the capital city's administration in curbing the transmission of COVID-19 after a three-month battle.

"This year, the anniversary celebrations are themed 'Jakarta Resilient' to highlight the fact that residents of this city harbor high spirits and demonstrate resilience in the face of tough challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Alhamdulillah, this pandemic, which was once quite grave in Jakarta, is now brought under control," he emphasized. (ANTARA)

Indonesia’s coronavirus case count touched 46,845 on June 22, 2020, with 18,735 people recovering from the infection, including 331 people discharged from hospital on Monday, said Achmad Yurianto, the government's spokesperson for COVID-19 response.

"The death toll is (currently at) 2,500. The number of patients under surveillance (PDP) is 12,999, while 43,500 people are under monitoring (ODP)," Yurianto said at a press conference at the Graha BNPB here in Jakarta on Monday.

On Monday, Indonesia added 954 confirmed cases, with the death toll climbing by 35 compared to the previous day.

On Sunday, 10,926 specimens were examined, of which, 954 showed a positive result for COVID-19.

So far, a total of 650,311 specimens have been tested using the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method, or Molecular Rapid Test (TCM).

East Java Province added the highest number of new cases on Monday, with a total of 315 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and 66 patients making a complete recovery from the infection.

Jakarta recorded 127 fresh cases and 74 recoveries, while South Sulawesi registered 111 new cases and 38 recoveries.

Meanwhile, South Kalimantan recorded 89 new cases and 10 recoveries; South Sumatra 60 new cases and 17 recoveries; West Java 17 new cases and 24 recoveries; West Nusa Tenggara 11 new cases and 13 recoveries; and, Gorontalo three new cases and four recoveries.

Of the country's 34 provinces, 19 provinces recorded less than 10 new cases on Monday, and 11 provinces reported no fresh cases. Yogyakarta saw no new cases and reported seven recoveries.

According to Yurianto, the coronavirus infection has so far spread to 440 districts and cities across the country. The number of affected areas increased by one on Monday compared to the day earlier.  (ANTARA)

Director General of Islamic Community Guidance of the Ministry of Religion Kamaruddin Amin 

The natural phenomenon an annular solar eclipse occur in most parts of the Indonesian archipelago this Sunday, June 21 .

Based on astronomical data, there are 31 provinces in Indonesia that can observe this rare phenomenon, as the last similar eclipse that could be witnessed from the archipelago occurred in 1648.

The Director General of Islamic Community Guidance of the Ministry of Religion Kamaruddin Amin in Jakarta, Saturday, June 20 urge to Muslims whose regions experienced an eclipse and were safe in COVID-19 to perform the solar eclipse prayer or Kusuf  prayer and follow the health protocol.

According to Kamaruddin, the timetable of Kusuf prayerdepends of the time of the solar eclipse in each region. (Rilis Kemenag/trans by PUTRI).