VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

As the number of positive cases of Covid-19 continues to decline, the Indonesian government has set the opening of international flights on October 14. The Ministry of Transportation has also confirmed the readiness of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the opening of international flights. The simulation of various services at the international arrival terminal has been carried out in detail.

The Ministry also stated that all service facilities are available and operating well at the international arrival terminals. Matters related to facilities for health protocols are also available. 35 hotels have been alerted for quarantine for new arrivals.

Foreign media have also been busy reporting plans to open international flights in Bali, such as CNN, New York Times, Bloomberg, Japan Today and Xinhua. Even since last week, the Chinese media has introduced the term PPKM or the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities as restrictions on the movement of local people imposed in Indonesia. In recent years, China has been the largest contributor of foreign tourists, especially to Bali. Every year, no less than 2.5 million Chinese tourists visit Indonesia.

Thus, the world community longs for a vacation to Bali. However, only 18 countries are allowed to enter Indonesia. This does not include Singapore, because the country has not met the WHO level 1 and 2 alert requirements. This is the statement of the Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in his press statement Monday (11/10). The government's plan is also sure to be a breath of fresh air for the people of Bali in particular. The province's economic activities have been hit hardest during the nearly two-year Covid-19 pandemic. Because the income is mostly from the tourism sector.

However, airport readiness is not enough. The arrival of foreign tourists in Bali must also be handled carefully by all Balinese people. Strict health protocols must still be enforced in every house, street, restaurant and tourism destination. The safety of the public and tourists is the most important aspect, because the Covid-19 pandemic has not shaken off.

The Indonesian Embassy in The Hague in collaboration with the Indonesian Student Association (PPI) Eindhoven held a webinar with the theme “Women in Science: Promoting and Empowering Women Scientist to Change the World” on October 1. In his opening remarks for the webinar, Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mayerfas, reiterated that Indonesia's efforts in empowering women exist at every level, either nationally, regionally or globally. For Indonesia, investing in women means investing in human rights.  The main speakers ere Deputy Director General of the Anti-Chemical Weapons Organization (OPCW), Ambassador Odette Melono. She emphasized the importance of openness in providing equal opportunities for women to gain access, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. OPCW acknowledges the openness and changes made to provide access to women, both in technical organs and policy makers in OPCW.

Commemorating the tragedy of the sinking of the KRI Nanggala 402 submarine, the British Navy Submarine Community led by Commodore James Perks CBE, held a wreath laying ceremony. The memorial was held at the National Submarine War Memorial, London on 7 October. The event was attended by Indonesian Ambassador to England, Desra Percaya and Assistant Indonesian Defense Attache, Major Pas Fajrun Shodiq. At the event, Chairman of the ‘We Remember Submariners foundation’, Ian Atkinson was also present. The We Remember Submariners is the only foundation in the UK that provides assistance to submarine crews worldwide. The series of commemorative agendas began with a ceremony to honor the 53 crew members of the KRI Nanggala 402 submarine and ended with the laying of remembrance poppies. Afterwards, the placard was handed over to Ambassador Desra Percaya, as a symbol of deep sympathy for the ranks of the British Navy for the tragedy that befell KRI Nanggala.

The Ministry of Investment/the Investment Coordinating Agency is eyeing investment for Indonesia from the United Arab Emirates by participating in Dubai Expo 2020. This was stated by Expert Staff for Competitiveness Improvement Investments at the Ministry of Investment, Heldy Satrya Putera at the Dubai Expo 2020 webinar themed: “Indonesia's showcase in the virtual world” last October 7. Dubai Expo 2020 takes place from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

According to Heldy, the participation in Dubai Expo 2020 is one of Indonesia's opportunities to encourage investment. It is hoped that from this activity, Indonesia can bring in much bigger investment from the United Arab Emirates and other countries. He also explained that Dubai Expo is participated by a total of 192 countries. Heldy admitted that the United Arab Emirates is not among the top 10 investment countries in Indonesia. However, it already has a large investment project in this country.

He further explained that the investment projects that he wants to bring in from the United Arab Emirates through Dubai Expo 2020 are new and renewable energy sector, tourism, and infrastructure. Heldy is optimistic that Dubai Expo 2020 can encourage a significant increase in investment from the United Arab Emirates.

Until now, the Indonesian government is still implementing a regulation of restrictions on community activities to suppress the spread of Covid-19. This regulation includes restrictions on residents' activities through blocking the entrances between cities and between provinces by land, sea and air.

This step has been effective in suppressing the development of Corona (Covid-19) cases in Indonesia.

Data from the National Disaster Management Agency broadcast on Sunday (10/10) reported that there were 894 new positive cases of Covid-19 to have occurred in the last 24 hours.

This addition brings the total positive Corona in Indonesia to more than 4 million cases since it was first discovered in March 2020.

Meanwhile, the government has carried out mass Corona vaccination throughout the country. Nearly 100 million of the approximately 270 million population have been injected with the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and more than half have received the full dose. The government targets at least 200 million people to be vaccinated.

Head of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito said that the decline in  Covid-19 cases put Indonesia in the same position with a number of countries that had experienced a surge in Covid-19 cases,  but succeeded in decreasing in a relatively short time, such as India, Japan, Vietnam and Turkey. The spike in cases in Indonesia is said to have been successfully suppressed by 90 percent within a month and has lasted for the last five months.

Indonesia is indeed quite successful in  dealing with the second spike in Covid-19 cases, compared to other countries which were also attacked by the Delta variant. Although it must be admitted, there are many factors that affect the handling of Covid-19 in different countries

The achievements made by the Indonesian government should be appreciated. However, to keep suppressing Covid-19 cases, the public should comply with the Government's appeal to continue with the Covid-19 prevention health protocols by wearing masks, washing hands, and keeping a distance.

The COVID-19 Handling Task Force emphasized that even though the pandemic was starting to slow down, people in Indonesia should remain vigilant and not be careless. Referring to a number of countries, that are currently facing the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. This potential can occur at any time.