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Photo Archive. President Joko Widodo during a limited meeting via video teleconference from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday (3/4/2020).

President Joko Widodo drew attention to seven provinces, with a high number of COVID-19 cases that had not applied large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) to control the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

During a limited meeting on PSBB evaluations held via video teleconference from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, the president urged government officials to evaluate COVID-19 countermeasures in areas that had not applied PSBB and compare case developments in areas that had enforced PSBB with those that had yet to enact them.

Based on data from the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling, until Monday (May 11), 10 provinces with the highest number of COVID-19 cases comprised DKI Jakarta with 5,276 cases, 1,536 in East Java, 1,493 in West Java, 980 in Central Java, 541 in Banten, 331 in West Nusa Tenggara, 314 in Bali, 299 in West Sumatra, 278 in South Sumatra, and 263 in South Kalimantan.

Of the 10 provinces with a high number of COVID-19 cases, only DKI Jakarta, West Java, and West Sumatra had applied PSBB.

"Seven other provinces have yet to apply PSBB. Hence, we also evaluate provinces, districts, and cities that do not impose PSBB but also apply physical distancing policies and enforce strict health protocols in their daily lives," the president explained.

During the limited meeting, Widodo stated that several provinces, districts, and cities had not yet implemented PSBB but still succeeded in lowering the transmission of COVID-19 by limiting community activities.

"This is since there is indeed innovation on the field by applying a policy model that restricts community activities in accordance with the context in their respective regions," he stated.

The president has urged relevant government agencies to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the spread of COVID-19 throughout the regions, especially in areas that have not shown a decrease in the number of cases.

"Based on data of new cases before and after the implementation of PSBB, indeed if we see, the results vary by region," he noted.

Indonesia recorded 233 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease as of Monday, while the number of recoveries climbed by 183, from the previous day, government spokesperson for COVID-19 handling, Achmad Yurianto, had earlier stated.

As of 12 p.m. local time on May 11, 2020, the total number of patients recovering from the infection stood at 2,881, while the tally for confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 14,265 nationwide, with 373 cities and districts reporting coronavirus cases.

“The number of patients dying of the disease increased by 18 to reach 991," Yurianto noted during a daily virtual press briefing.

As of Monday, the health authorities tested 116,358 people using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as rapid test methods, with at least 102,093 people whose test results came negative for COVID-19.

Yurianto emphasized that the number of new cases cropping up on a daily basis indicated ongoing transmission among members of the community, as people were not well-isolated, and there were vulnerable groups at high risk of contracting the infection.

He urged people to comply with the government’s guidelines on social distancing to break the chain of COVID-19 spread, frequently wash hands, and wear masks.(ANTARA)