VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian rupiah strengthened against the US dollar in the Jakarta interbank market on Friday morning, on the back of positive sentiment toward risk assets.The rupiah soared 202 points, or 1.29 percent, to Rp15,438 as compared to Rp15,640 per US dollar earlier."This morning, risk assets received a positive sentiment after some European countries and the US announced plans to lift the coronavirus lockdown, to revive their economy along with a slow pace of spread of coronavirus," Monex Investindo Futures Chief Researcher Ariston Tjendra stated in Jakarta on Friday as quoted by Antara.US President Donald Trump had recently announced a guide to lifting the coronavirus lockdown in three phases, and 29 states can lift it in the near future//Ant

Indonesia’s fishery exports in the first quarter of 2020 increased, as trade restrictions with China amid coronavirus concerns, pushed businesses to find new markets, according to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).

"The increase in the value of Indonesian fishery exports during the January-March, 2020 period, was affected by the closure and restrictions on imports by China since the beginning of 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak," director general of Competitiveness Strengthening at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Nilanto Perbowo, said on Friday in Jakarta as quoted by Antara.

According to Perbowo, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted exporter countries such as Indonesia to divert shipments to the US and European markets, the largest markets for shrimp and tuna products.The increase in exports was mainly noted for processed raw materials, retail supply, ready-to-serve, and durable fish, such as canned fish.The United States ranked first among the five main export destination countries in January-March, 2020. Exports to China, which came next//Ant

The government will raise the capacity of participants and the budget for the pre-employment card program, in the coming second phase in response to the high level of interest, in the program among community members. As quoted by Antara,Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartanto made the statement at the coordination meeting on the pre-employment card and capacity building for the pre-employment program. The meeting, held via videoconference, was attended by Head of the Presidential Staff Office Dr Moeldoko in addition to several ministers and related officials. According to a press release sent by the Presidential Staff Office in Jakarta, Friday, the first wave of the Pre-Employment Card registration process was closed for participants on April 16. The program had a total of 5.7 million registrants, of which the status of 3.1 million participants had been verified//Ant

The Indonesian Government has launched a new slogan — ‘My face mask protects you, and yours protects me’ — as part of a nationwide campaign to encourage the use of protective face masks to curb coronavirus infections.

The slogan was unveiled by government spokesperson for the handling of COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto, during his regular press conference on COVID-19 efforts here on Friday.
Wearing face masks is one the preventive measures that can help contain the spread of COVID-19, Yurianto said adding, people must wear masks to protect themselves from being infected and to prevent transmitting the disease to others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and many medical doctors in different parts of the world have also recommended the use of face masks in wake of the global pandemic.
During the press meet, Yurianto also provided the latest information on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, number of patients who have fully recovered from the disease, and the death toll.

As of 12 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) Friday, Indonesia has recorded 5,923 confirmed cases, 520 deaths, and 607 recoveries, he informed.
With 407 new cases reported since the previous day, it is evident that coronavirus transmissions have continued, he added.

Yurianto urged people at large to uphold the spirit of "gotong royong" (mutual cooperation) to enable Indonesia to flatten the curve.

He also urged people to have empathy and show sympathy towards others by respecting those in self-quarantine; refraining from rejecting the bodies of deceased COVID-19 patients; and treating those diagnosed with COVID-19 symptoms humanely.

Yurianto also reminded all community members to follow a healthy lifestyle.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has declared the coronavirus outbreak a national disaster in view of infections spreading to all 34 provinces in the country. COVID-19 initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019 and has since spread to several countries across the globe.

President Jokowi accorded national disaster status to the ongoing pandemic in a letter (number 12/2020) dated 13 April, 2020, which highlighted several points, including the appointment of head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Doni Monardo, to lead the COVID-19 task force.

The Task Force for the Accelerated Handling of COVID-19 will work on mitigating the impact of the pandemic through coordinated efforts with the concerned ministries, government agencies, and regional administrations, according to the letter.

The letter has also named governors, district heads, and city mayors as the heads of the COVID-19 task forces in their respective regions. While drawing up regional policies, they will be required to refer to the policies formulated by the central government.

Jakarta and several other cities in Indonesia have also imposed large-scale social restrictions and distancing measures to break the chain of the deadly outbreak. (ANTARA)