VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Though the government has yet to decide whether to ban this year’s Idul Fitri mudik (exodus), many Jakarta workers have reportedly returned to their hometowns across Java despite warnings against traveling and public gatherings. As quoted by Jakartapost.com (26/3)  some consider it an opportunity to mudik earlier as business has slowed down or their offices have closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak — even though Idul Fitri is not expected to fall until late May.Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said he had obtained reports from regents and mayors saying the initial homecoming flow from Jakarta had recently entered the province. Ganjar explained in Jepara, 44 buses arrived from Jakarta carrying homecomers. It indeed happened early maybe because the offices and companies where they worked had reduced their working hours or even stopped operating.  while the homecomers’ health has yet to be confirmed, Ganjar hoped they did not cause problems for residents, including students, who had been advised to stay at home//JP

Iran's government has banned internal travel and warned of a "second wave" of its coronavirus disease outbreak, as the official death toll passed 2,000. Spokesman Ali Rabiei lamented that some people had ignored advice and travelled during the Nowruz new year holidays. As a result, he said, people would no longer be able to leave their cities and would soon face other restrictions. Iran's leaders have so far resisted imposing lockdowns despite it being one of the world's worst-hit countries. They have insisted that all necessary measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 have been taken, despite many Iranians expressing concern//BBC

The number of Indonesians testing positive for the coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, in Singapore rose to 25 as of Tuesday, with one patient recovering and another dying of the infection. Two of the remaining 23 Indonesian COVID-19 patients are receiving intensive medical care, while the condition of the others is stable. The Singapore Health Ministry announced one Indonesian, identified as the country’s 545th case, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore said in a press statement released on Wednesday.The latest Indonesian to be diagnosed with COVID-19 is a 75-year-old woman holding a long-term pass. The woman, who had a travel history to ASEAN member countries, is related to the 403rd case treated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). The other Indonesian COVID-19 patients are being treated at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital (MENH), Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Gleneagles Hospital, and Farrer Park Hospital//Ant

Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi who had tested positive for COVID-19 is recovering at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Jakarta, where he has been undergoing treatment since March 14, a government official revealed.

“The transportation minister's condition has been getting better," said Special Staffer for Agency and Media Affairs at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jodi Mahardi, during a telepress conference on Wednesday in Jakarta.
Mahardi said he believed the hospital authorities had even taken the 63-year-old minister off the ventilator. The minister was the 76th COVID-19 patient in Indonesia. He appealed to the people to pray Minister Budi Karya Sumadi makes a full recovery so he can get back to work. The government had confirmed on March 14 that Sumadi had tested positive for COVID-19. A cabinet minister, he had been in the frontline of the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus, said Minister of State Secretary Pratikno//ANT