VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has decided not to conduct a face-to-face population census, originally scheduled for May this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency’s chairman Suhariyanto said on Wednesday. The census had earlier been postponed until September this year, but has now been cancelled as the BPS has decided to slash its budget by 41 percent.

“The BPS has cut its budget fund by 41 percent, so it will not conduct the face-to-face census this year," Suhariyanto said during a working meeting with Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The BPS now plans to mobilize 1.2 million neighborhood unit chiefs across Indonesia to distribute questionnaires to households as a substitute for the face-to-face census, he informed.

"There will be no face-to-face census in 2020. But, we will take samples in 2021 because the questions are more complete," he added. 

Although some regions are implementing social distancing, the BPS is committed to publishing strategic data to assess the extent to which COVID-19 has impacted social and economic life. As of May 5, 2020, 42 million people have registered for the online population census, the first of its kind in the country, initiated by the agency, Suhariyanto declared//ANT

The United Kingdom has recorded Europe's highest number of deaths inked to coronavirus. It has overtaken Italy, and is second only to the United States in total number of recorded deaths from the disease. Dominic Raab, the UK First Secretary of State, said the latest figures portrayed “a massive tragedy” but he warned against making comparisons with other countries until much more information is available on all causes of death.

"There are different ways of counting we know that we have that debate in this country. We now published data include all deaths in all setting and all countries do that so I’m not sure that international comparison works unless you’re reliably know that your contry is measuring in the same way. And it was depend on how good countries are in gathering the statistic and our own office national statistic is widely acknowledge to be a world leader" Dominic Raab said. 

He added the only sensible comparison is by looking at excess all-cause mortality, adjusted for the age distribution of the country but even then it will be very difficult to ascribe the reasons for any differences.The latest figures show there were 693 deaths linked to the virus in a 24-hour period in the UK. That brings the total number of deaths officially linked to the virus to 29,427. The latest total for Italy, previously the highest in Europe, now stands at 29,315. Both Italy and the UK record the deaths of people who have tested positive for coronavirus.UK deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, Dame Angela Mclean said that it could be months before full global comparisons can be made.

"Everybody knows making international comparison in such statistic could be difficult and it maybe it will take sometimes to short that and this isn’t over yet" the deputy said. 

The impact of the pandemic on some of the most vulnerable people is increasingly clear. Italy was the first part of Europe to see cases rise rapidly, and the scenes of hospitals being overwhelmed were met with shock and disbelief. On the face of it, both countries now count deaths in a similar way, including both in hospitals and the community//NK

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministers Responsible for Trade acknowledged the huge challenges posed on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and issued a statement on it. The APEC trade ministers were deeply saddened by the human losses caused by the pandemic, according to a written statement issued by the APEC Secretariat and received here on Wednesday. APEC trade ministers also highly lauded frontline workers worldwide, especially those from member economies, for their contribution and sacrifice in safeguarding public health. The APEC trade ministers also expressed concern over the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable developing economies. To this end, they reiterated the criticality of multilevel collaboration transcending regions to expedite their fight against COVID-19 and vouched to working closely to address pandemic-related disruptions with urgency//Ant

President Joko Widodo reminded all ministries and staff to make  the handling of Covid-19 as the focus of all programs that are carried out. The president  during his  direction at the opening of the Plenary Cabinet Session, Wednesday (05/06/2020) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta stated that the government must immediately be able to reduce and control the transmission of the covid-19  in Indonesia.  The president  targeted that the spread of the virus can be completely controlled in May, including lowering the Covid-19 curve.

"I asked all the ministers,  head of institutions,  Chief of Indonesian Police (Kapolri), military commanders to mobilize all the energy and power to control Covid and deal with the  impact.  Our target  is that  it must be truly achieved in May based on the basis of the target the government  has given, the curve must go down. It must enter a moderate position in June and it  must also enter an easier  position in July.  It is done not only by the Task Force but it also involves all elements of the nation.  Government ranks, social organizations, volunteers, political parties and the private sector.  This must be organized  properly. I believe if we are united, if we are disciplined in implementing health protocols, all the plans that we have prepared in the past can handle the  Covid as soon as possible" The President said. 

Moreover, President Joko Widodo also recalled all staff to hold  to the principles of Good Governance in handling Covid-19. He requested that all parties hold transparency and accountability in an effort to achieve the goals of people's safety, both in the field of health and social economy//Ndy/TRANS:AF