Achmad Yurianto, Indonesian government's spokesperson for COVID-19 response, asserted that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can be fully controllable, chiefly through the public's compliance and discipline in implementing the social distancing measure and health protocols.

"We must abide by the rules if we want (the virus) to be brought under control in June and July. Presently, there are indications of the disease starting to be brought under control, and restrictions being reduced," Yurianto stated during a press conference at the Graha BNPB Building here on Tuesday.

All elements of the nation should be committed to staying disciplined and compliant to the policies applied by the government to successfully contain the COVID-19 pandemic, he remarked.

Yurianto noted that COVID-19 cannot be contained if only a part or a group of people are committed.

"We are optimistic that August would be better. A new sense of normalcy will be restored in our lives, and we will lead a more disciplined life, for instance, the discipline of hand washing and leading a clean and healthy lifestyle," he stated.

Yurianto stated that Indonesians, their families, and neighbors, as well as the environment can be protected by following a clean and healthy lifestyle.

"We are sure we can. The key is that we must be together and "gotong royong (mutual help and cooperation)," he emphasized.

Until Tuesday, at 12:00 local time, Indonesia recorded 243 other people that had recovered from the novel coronavirus disease, thereby bringing the total number of recoveries so far to 2,197.

New deaths brought the death toll to 972, while the number of confirmed cases rose by 484 people to reach 12,071 (Antara)

Jakarta (VOI News) - Economic cooperation between Indonesia and Ethiopia has been very well and continues to increase from year to year. Currently, there are 5 Indonesian companies investing in Ethiopia. This has made Ethiopia as the second largest country that receives Indonesian investment in Africa after Nigeria. However, the COVID-19 outbreak affected both the short-term and long-term economic cooperation of the two countries. This was conveyed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Ethiopia concurrently Djibouti and the African Union, Al Busyra Basnur, in a special interview with Voice of Indonesia by telephone, in Jakarta, Tuesday (05/05/2020). He gave an example of the visit of 50 Ethiopian businessmen to Indonesia, which was originally planned on March 30, 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

"The planned visit of around 50 Ethiopian businessmen to Indonesia on 30 March, and even the business delegation scheduled to be led by a high ranking official, namely the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I myself have coordinated with the Indonesian central government regarding various activities that would be carried out in Indonesia. But, unfortunately, we must postpone this plan," Al Busyra Basnur said.

Ambassador Al Busyra Basnur added the first case of COVID-19 in Ethiopia was on March 13, 2020. Until May 3, 2020, in Ethiopia, there have been 135 confirmed cases, 3 deaths, and 75 recovered cases. Al Busyra said that some of the COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia are from foreign nationals and Ethiopian citizens who traveled from areas affected by COVID-19. According to Al Busyra Basnur, all 163 Indonesians in Ethiopia and 6 Indonesians in Djibouti are in a healthy condition and are not exposed to COVID-19. (VOI / ADVENT / AHM)

Bogor (VOI News) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo attended the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Virtual Summit on Monday (05/04/2020) at the Presidential Palace, which specifically discussed the handling of Covid-19. This summit was held to coincide with the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Dasasila Bandung in 2020 and the 60th anniversary of the founding of the NAM in 2021. After accompanying the President, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the NAM Virtual Summit produced a declaration that raised concerns about the spread and impact of Covid-19. The NAM Summit Declaration also acknowledged that the most affected by Covid-19 were poor and vulnerable countries. According to Retno, this will result in a setback in the development that has been carried out by developing countries and will make it difficult to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"In addition, the declaration also emphasized support for multilateralism and WHO in handling Covid-19. Related to this declaration also welcomed the resolution of the UN General Assembly number 74/270 related to the global solidarity to fight Covid-19, one of the initiators was Indonesia. The declaration also emphasized the importance of solidarity and cooperation including in ensuring the availability of drugs and medical equipment and preventing Covid-19's negative impact on the economy,” Retno LP Marsudi said.

Retno Marsudi further said that the Declaration on the results of the GNB Virtual Summit also raised the importance of information exchange and best practices related to handling Covid-19. The declaration also mentioned the need to revoke the application of unilateral mechanisms that are considered not in accordance with international law and the UN charter. This is intended so that the handling of Covid-19 can be done effectively. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also mentioned the agreement on the formation of a Non-Aligned Movement task force.

"Another thing emphasized in the declaration is the agreement on the formation of the NAM task force. The task of this task force is to compile a database of medical and humanitarian needs of the NAM country to be forwarded to the donor countries and organizations. Retno Marsudi continued.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi explained that with the agreement on the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement task force, the Declaration of the Non-Aligned Movement Virtual Summit was not only a political statement but also produced concrete ideas in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. (VOI / Ndy / AHM)

Workers check vehicles produced at an assembly plant in Karawang. (ANTARA)

 As many as 14 companies in Karawang District, West Java, have temporarily stopped production as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the local chamber of commerce and industry.

The 14 companies operate in industrial zones and estates in the district, chief of the chamber, Fadludin Damanhuri, said on Monday.

Some of the companies have forced workers to take unpaid leave and even laid off workers, he added.

He said the chamber is still collecting data on the number of workers who have been forced to take unpaid leave and laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is true that the condition at 14 companies in Karawang has become a cause for concern," he remarked.

Meanwhile, many companies in Karawang have not received technical guidelines from the local government on large-scale social restrictions which will be implemented in the district starting Wednesday (May 6, 2020), said Damanhuri.

There has been no explanation from the Karawang district government on whether companies in the district would operate as usual or have to restrict operations during the implementation of large-scale social restrictions, he added.

He said representatives of companies have met with officials from the district government to discuss preparations for large-scale social restrictions. However, the meeting did not cover technical guidance for companies, he added. (ANTARA)