VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI News (Jakarta) - The Indonesian Ministry of the Environment appreciates food producers for their efforts to reduce the use of plastics in their food products. In a virtual awards ceremony to producers on Tuesday (09/06/20) in Jakarta, the Indonesian Minister of the Environment, Siti Nurbaya said, the amount of composition and variety of plastic waste that continues to increase must be taken seriously so as not to pollute terrestrial ecosystems and the sea is also human health in the future.

"If we do not carry out extraordinary policies and efforts, it is estimated that in 2050 the composition of plastic waste will more than double to 35 percent of our existing waste. As a result, more and more untreated plastic waste will leak into the environment, polluting the environment. terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and threaten human health.

Minister Siti Nurbaya added, she also appreciated the progressive efforts of regional governments in the ban on the use of plastics. (VOI/NK/AHM)

The planned reopening of nine economic sectors in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic must be undertaken in a gradual manner, said Berly Martawardaya, research director, Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef).

"We are in the process of healing. Analogically speaking, if you have stomach acid pain, you would not immediately eat something that is too spicy and too acidic," he said at a press conference held by the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling, which was broadcast via YouTube in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Martawardaya, who is also a lecturer of economics and business at the University of Indonesia, said the government has carried out well-executed reviews by establishing three criteria for the nine economic sectors, including for indoors and crowded areas, and for close interactions.

Among the nine sectors, which are scheduled to reopen, some fulfill all three criteria, including plantation, farming, and agriculture, all of which are rather safe, he continued.

Meanwhile, there are several sectors that involve indoor as well as outdoor activities, he pointed out.

"Protocols for each sector must be delineated. In fact, it may be necessary to make additional protocols," he noted.

Therefore, he suggested, the reopening of all nine sectors must not be undertaken in a rushed manner.

Otherwise, he cautioned, the move could lead to deepening of the economic slump instead of helping improve the economy.

"If (the opening is) done in a hurry, it could lead to new COVID-19 transmission clusters and even cause the economy to fall back (into a decline),” he said.

The government used data-based public health indicators while considering the reopening of the nine economic sectors, chief of the COVID-19 task force, Doni Monardo, had earlier said.

"The nine sectors are considered to have a low risk of COVID-19 threat, but can create extensive employment and have a significant economic impact," he said in a statement released on June 5, 2020.

The nine sectors that are set to be reopened include mining, oil, industry, construction, plantations, agriculture and farming, fisheries, logistics, and goods transportation. (ANTARA)

The Indonesian government is ensuring the entire infrastructure for handling the coronavirus pandemic is running properly as the country prepares to implement the new normal order.

The statement was delivered by presidential spokesperson Fadjroel Rachman during a discussion in the ANTARA newsroom on Tuesday in Jakarta.

"The government is desperately making preparations. (These include) the preparations of medical personnel, hospital rooms, the level of testing, among others," Fadjroel Rachman said.

The government is also urging the public to use masks, follow physical distancing, and other measures, he noted.

If the measures are adopted properly, the President will make the decision to enter the new normal stage.

According to Fadjroel, what is happening right now is preparation for a new normal.

In this period of preparation, he said, the President has set an example for performing activities while following health protocols.

The President has shown how prayers can be offered at the mosque while practicing social distancing and sports can be played on weekends while following health protocols, he added.

"President Joko Widodo has been very precise, (and) measured (in his approach to handling COVID-19). What is a prerequisite for normalcy is the level of epidemiology. If the number of positive patients and deaths is still high, that would determine the epidemiological level," he stated. (ANTARA)

Indonesia added 1,043 new COVID-19 cases as of 12 p.m. local time on June 9, 2020, with the number of recoveries rising by 510, said government spokesperson for COVID-19 handling, Achmad Yurianto.

"The total number of new cases is not evenly distributed throughout Indonesia. (They are) Mostly concentrated in DKI Jakarta, East Java, South Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, and North Sulawesi," Yurianto said during a press conference called by the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling, which was held virtually in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to the latest figures, Indonesia’s confirmed COVID-19 case count stands at 33,076, with 11,414 patients having recovered from the virus so far.

The spokesperson further said that DKI Jakarta reported 232 new positive cases and 165 recoveries, while East Java reported 220 new cases and 85 recoveries, South Sulawesi reported 180 new cases and 31 recoveries, South Kalimantan reported 91 new cases and one recovery, and Sulawesi North 41 new cases and no recoveries.

The provinces with the highest recoveries included DKI Jakarta, East Java, Central Java, Bali, and South Sulawesi. Central Java reported 80 recoveries and 32 new positive cases and Bali recorded 32 recoveries and 14 new cases.

Meanwhile, there were 17 provinces that added less than 10 positive cases, and seven provinces reported a zero increase in new cases.

The provinces that reported no fresh cases were Aceh, Bengkulu, Jambi, Riau Islands, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara.

Furthermore, the number of COVID-19 deaths also increased.

The number of casualties increased by 40, bringing the total death toll to 1,923, Yurianto said.

An additional 16,181 specimens were examined and verified as of 12 p.m. local time on Tuesday, taking the total number of specimens scrutinized through molecular rapid tests and PCR to 429,161 specimens against 281,653 people.

As many as 248,577 test results came back negative, while 33,076 were positive.

"(The number of) People under monitoring (ODP) is 38,394, while there are 14,108 patients under surveillance (PDP)," Yurianto informed.

The data revealed that transmissions are still continuing to occur in the community, he said, adding that new habits need to be adopted.

“There are still positive cases where patients don’t exhibit symptoms, as well as behavior that makes people susceptible to contracting (the virus), so transmissions have continued,” he remarked. (ANTARA)