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Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi 

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, discussed the developments in Myanmar with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during a visit to WuYi, Fujian province, China.

"We share concerns over the developments of the situation and do not want to see the Myanmar people suffer more and more," Marsudi said in a press conference from China.

The Indonesian and Chinese governments stressed the importance of ending the immediate use of force and violence in Myanmar, and conducting a dialogue between relevant parties in the country.

Marsudi said China expressed support for the efforts and offers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help Myanmar, including President Joko Widodo's initiative to hold an ASEAN Summit to discuss the Myanmar issue.

Apart from China, Marsudi said, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also voiced similar support in a conversation that took place two days ago.

Apart from discussing the developments in Myanmar, the Indonesian and Chinese foreign ministers also discussed Indo-Pacific cooperation in the context of the geopolitical situation."It is not for the first time we have discussed the issue. We both discussed this issue several times. I re-emphasize the principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," Marsudi said.

During the discussion with her Chinese counterpart, the Indonesian minister emphasized ASEAN's openness to all partners in the implementation of cooperation in the context of the Indo-Pacific view, as well as efforts to continue to advance cooperation.

"Because we believe that confrontation will not benefit anyone," she remarked.

She also emphasized the importance of consistently promoting inclusive cooperation with all partners during the talks in China.

In today's challenging world, cooperation is increasingly important, and Indonesia will continue to be consistent in upholding the principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, Marsudi said.

"By upholding these principles, ASEAN centrality will be maintained and the implementation of important cooperation is directed at economic cooperation that is concrete and mutually beneficial," she added.Foreign Minister Marsudi visited Fujian province with State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir and Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi.

On Friday, the three ministers held about 14 meetings to discuss various issues, including the geopolitical situation, vaccine cooperation, increased trade and investment activities, as well as consular cooperation, including efforts to strengthen protection for Indonesian crew members//ANT

A hospital employee sprays disinfectant on belongings of COVID-19 patients discharged from Surabaya hospital post recovery. (ANTARA FOTO/DIDIK SUHARTONO)

The number of patients recovering from COVID-19 increased by 5,439 on Friday to reach 1,361,017, accounting for around 89 percent of the total cases in Indonesia, according to the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling.

The country reported 5,325 new confirmed cases over a single day on Friday, bringing the total case tally to 1,523,179.

As many as 97 COVID-19 patients succumbed to the disease during the period, bringing the death toll to 41,151. The first COVID-19 cases were detected in Indonesia in March, 2020.

The number of COVID-19 patients still undergoing treatment and isolation on Friday was recorded at 121,011 people, or down 211 from the previous day.As per data from the task force, only North Maluku province did not report new infections on Friday.

The highest number of fresh cases was reported in Jakarta, which recorded 1,240 cases over 24 hours, followed by Banten with 850 new cases, West Java with 661 new cases, South Kalimantan with 283 new cases, and East Java with 274 new cases.

The capital city also recorded the highest COVID-19 tally at 384,632 cases, with total recoveries reaching 371,180. East Java province reported the highest death toll at 9,974//ANT

Governor of Bali Wayan Koster (right) and of the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling Doni Monardo (left). (Antaranews Bali/HO-Pemprov Bali/2021)

Bali Governor Wayan Koster has claimed that the customary village-based imposition of micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro) has helped push down the COVID-19 infection rate on the resort island.

"Bali's number of new confirmed cases, counted on a daily basis, has shown a downward trend since the imposition of this PPKM Mikro policy," Koster said in a press statement that ANTARA received here on Friday.

In addition to the enforcement of PPKM Mikro that has contributed to the decline in the province's infection rate, local residents' awareness on abiding by the government's health protocols has also improved, he informed.

At present, Bali's COVID-19 recovery rate is recorded at 93.10 percent, while its death rate stands at 2.86 percent, and infection rate at 4.05 percent, he said, adding that the authorities are also taking stern action against those found violating health protocols.

"Foreign tourists found guilty of violating the government's health protocols are subject to legal sanctions, including getting fined Rp1 million and deported," Koster said.The government's vaccination program has been continued to create herd immunity on Bali Island, he added.

The Bali provincial government has set a target of inoculating three million residents, or 70 percent of Bali's total population, under the vaccination program.

As of March 28, 2021, Indonesia has set up 7,664 command posts in 15 provinces to impose PPKM Mikro.

The 7,664 command posts are in charge of prevention measures for 12,619,259 households in 193,550 neighborhood units, according to the COVID-19 task force.

Indonesia has been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since the government officially announced the country's first cases on March 2, 2020.The government has rolled out a nationwide vaccination program since January 13 this year to stem the spread of the disease.

The Health Ministry estimates it will take 15 months to vaccinate around 181.5 million people under the national program.

"We need 15 months to accomplish it. The time-frame for conducting the vaccination is counted from January, 2021 to March, 2022," Health Ministry's spokesperson for the vaccination program, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, stated recently.

During the period, the government is targeting to inoculate about 181.5 million people, including 1.3 million paramedics and 17.4 million public sector workers in 34 provinces, she informed.

Tarmizi noted that the first phase of the government's immunization program has been divided into two periods: January-April, 2021 and April, 2021-March, 2022.Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto has affirmed that all TNI personnel will participate in the vaccination program.

Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate crossed one million cases on January 26, 2021. The outbreak has dragged Indonesia into serious public health and economic crises//ANT

COVID-19: Three Batam city buffer islands get green zone status

Three of Batam city's buffer islands have been declared COVID-19 green zones following the recovery of five Belakangpadang islanders, a government official said.

"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), Belakangpadang Island has again turned into a COVID-19 green zone," Belakangpadang sub-district head Yudi Admaji told journalists here on Friday.

Batam city's COVID-19 task force confirmed earlier that five members of a family in Belakangpadang Island had fully recovered from the novel coronavirus disease on Thursday evening.

Besides Belakangpadang, two more buffer islands -- Bulang and Galang -- also obtained their green zone status. However, the infection rate in Batam Island has increased, the COVID-19 task force informed.

Last week, the island's areas were still dominated by COVID-19 yellow zones, but this week, the sub-districts of Lubuk Baja and Batam city have turned into deep red zones, it said.

At the same time, the sub-districts of Sekupang, Sei Beduk, and Bengkong have turned into bright red zones, while four other sub-districts have remained yellow zones, it added.The four sub-districts are Batuaji, Sagulung, Batuampar, and Nongsa, according to the COVID-19 task force.

Batam city recorded eight new confirmed cases in the 24 hours ended Thursday evening, taking the total number of positive cases to 6,186.

Batam city's recovery rate also rose to 4,873 after 25 residents fully recovered from the deadly disease.

Since the Indonesian government officially announced the country's first COVID-19 cases on March 2, 2020, Batam city has lost 155 residents to the coronavirus.

"At present, 158 infected residents are still hospitalized,” said head of Batam city's Health Office, Didi Kusmarjadi.Indonesia, which has been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, rolled out a nationwide vaccination program on January 13 this year to stem the spread of the disease.

According to the Health Ministry, it will take about 15 months to vaccinate about 181.5 million people under the national program.

"We need 15 months to accomplish it. The time-frame for conducting the vaccination is counted from January, 2021 to March, 2022," Health Ministry's spokesperson for the vaccination program, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, stated recently.

During the period, the government is targeting to inoculate about 181.5 million people, including 1.3 million paramedics and 17.4 million public sector workers in 34 provinces, she informed.

Tarmizi noted that the first phase of the government's immunization program has been divided into two periods: January-April, 2021 and April, 2021-March, 2022//ANT