VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia’s debt is expected to remain sustainable this year despite a steep increase in the planned issuance of government bonds to finance the country’s widening budget due to a big COVID-19 stimulus check. Asian Development Bank -ADB Indonesia country economist Yurendra Basnett said that the country had entered the COVID-19 crisis with one of the lowest debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratios in the world, while the government’s lower revenue and higher state spending would likely push the ratio higher. The important point is that the increasing debt-to-GDP ratio will still remain at a sustainable level of below 40 percent. Basnett projected that Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio would reach 37.8 percent this year//JP

The imposition of restrictions on movement as an effort to suppress the number of COVID-19 cases in Lebanon since early March also affected the freedom of Indonesian citizens who live there. The condition was responded to by government representatives through the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut, to distribute social assistance to Indonesian citizens.The Indonesian Embassy in Beirut distributed social assistance to 160 Indonesian citizens, including Indonesian students, Indonesian Migrant Workers, and Indonesian citizens who were married to local citizens.The Indonesian Ambassador to Lebanon, Hajriyanto Y. Thohari, in an official statement on Sunday (April 26) said that the group was the most vulnerable group affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic in Lebanon because the local government restricts movements that impact the income of Indonesian citizens who mostly work in the service sector.He added the assistance was a form of attention of the Indonesian Government to the Indonesian people in Lebanon who were economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic//PTR

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has allocated Rp1.3 trillion for infrastructure development in five National Tourism Strategic Zones (KSPN) in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The regent of West Manggarai, Agustinus Ch Dulla, in a statement here on Sunday, said the infrastructure development projects for the Labuan Bajo KSPN included water resources, road construction, bridges, accommodation, and housing. Some Rp. 67.7 billion is allocated for the construction of the safety facilities of Loh Buaya Beach on Rinca Island. In addition, funds amounting to Rp420.1 billion will be used for the construction of roads and bridges, the improvement of the Waecicu tourism area road, and the Port access road construction. Meanwhile, the settlement sector will receive Rp. 646.3 billion in funds, for improving the Marina-Bukit Pramuka beach area and Puncak Waringin area//ant

Indonesian Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto handed over 1,000 rapid test kits to Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital (RSD) for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment in Kemayoran, here, on Saturday.

"The Indonesian Minister of Health Terawan handed over a three-strip rapid test kits for handling COVID-19 patients, because the rapid test tool currently being used in Wisma Atlet Hospital has only two strips," Head of the Indonesian Military's Health Center Major General Dr. Bambang Dwi Hasto, said in a statement.

During his visit, Terawan also reviewed the readiness of the emergency hospital's Tower IV, Tower V, and Tower VI which have been converted into facilities to treat patients infected with COVID-19.

Currently, only Tower VII is fully in operational, while other towers are being prepared to anticipate in case the number of inpatients increases.

On early Sunday, the emergency hospital treated a total of 840 inpatients, rising 16 from 824 inpatients on the previous day.

They comprised 508 men and 332 women. Of the total, 723 patients tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease, 57 patients under surveillance (PDP), and 60 under monitoring (ODP), Yudo Margono, head of the emergency hospital, said in a statement here on Sunday.

The number of confirmed cases at the hospital increased by 22 to reach 723, from 701 on Saturday, he remarked.

The number of PDP cases decreased by seven people, from 64 to reach 57, while ODP cases increased by one person, from 59 to 60 patients.

The Kemayoran Athlete's Village was converted into an emergency hospital and officially inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on March 23. The hospital has a total capacity to accommodate 12 thousand people.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson for COVID-19 Response Achmad Yurianto reported that patients recovering from COVID-19 rose by 40 to reach 1,042, while confirmed cases touched 8,607 across Indonesia as of noon of April 25, 2020.(ANTARA)