State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
The Indonesian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics on Saturday (August 14, 2021) -
Indonesia's contingent is aiming to secure five medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Chef de Mission (CdM) of the Indonesia team Andi Herman said.
The calculation is based on an evaluation of each athlete's prospects in each sports branch, he added.
During the virtual send-off event for the Indonesian contingent for the Tokyo Paralympics on Saturday, Herman said the Indonesian team is targeting to secure one gold, one silver, and three bronze medals as well as finish in the top 60 of the medal standings.
There are four sports branches in which the contingent can win a medal, he added.
Parabadminton is the main focus, with the team hoping to earn one gold and one silver medal each, Herman informed.
He also said that Indonesia has a shot at getting the bronze in powerlifting and table tennis adding, he was optimistic the contingent can reach its goal.
"Other than that, (the event will serve to) increase athletes' experience and also to assess their opponents for evaluation material and athletes' guidance strategy for the next Paralympics," he remarked.
To reach the medal target, the National Paralympics Committee (NPC) Indonesia made thorough preparations, despite the challenges it faced implementing them amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Herman said.
For instance, national training was held in Solo, Central Java from October 2020 until August 2021, he added.
NPC Indonesia also sent the athletes to participate in international events to boost their performance and to collect points, he pointed out.
"We have also conducted tryouts abroad to increase athletes' experience," Herman remarked.
On account of the preparations, it is hoped the Indonesian contingent can achieve the projected target, he said.
"(We are aiming at) Not just fixing our ranking, but also to gather even more medals than the previous Paralympics (result) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016," he asserted//ANT
A screenshot of Kamaruddin Amin from Religious Affairs Ministry in discussion of Acceleration of Digital Economy Downstreaming as seen in Jakarta, August 13, 2021.(ANTARA/Asep Firmansyah/my) -
The Religious Affairs Ministry has lauded the Communication and Informatics Ministry for roping it in for its talent development program, which aims to help the nation meet the urgent need for digital transformation.
"The Religious Affairs Ministry's involvement means an important thing, and it gives enlightenment on the topic of digital transformation," Kamaruddin Amin from the Religious Affairs Ministry said during an online discussion here on Friday.
The Communication and Informatics Ministry has three important agendas, he informed. The first is digital literacy education, which aims to hone public digital literacy skills, so that they are not easily influenced by harmful digital content, he said.
Under the second agenda, the Communication and Informatics Ministry has rolled out a Digital Talent Scholarship program for university students, general public, professionals, teachers, and vocational students, and state apparatuses, he added.
Under the third agenda, it has set up a Digital Leadership Academy, he said. The program aimed at civil state apparatuses and private parties will be conducted from August to November this year for a maximum of 300 participants, he added.
The Religious Affairs Ministry will participate in the Communication and Informatics Ministry's digital literacy program and the Digital Entrepreneurship Academy, Amin disclosed.
The Religious Affairs Ministry has thousands of important religious figures who can act as agents against counterproductive narratives spread among the public, he said. Such narratives often spread among the public without their full understanding or comprehension, he added.
"The Religious Affairs Ministry has a big significance. Because our people, the agents of Religious Affairs Ministry, especially religious moderation agents, will spread religious messages, nationalistic messages," Amin said.
Meanwhile, director of Diniyah Education and Islamic Boarding School, Waryono Abdul Ghofur, said that lack of infrastructure is a problem that will need to be addressed before Islamic boarding schools can be digitalized and participate in the Digital Entrepreneurship Academy.
He said he expects the Communication and Informatics Ministry to consider and resolve the issue so that the program can be conducted smoothly.
"We appreciate (the initiative), though we have to inform that our schools are mostly in villages. One of the problems is the internet connection, even though the Communication and Informatics Ministry tried to fix internet coverage in villages," he added.
Ghofur said that despite the technical difficulty, Islamic boarding schools fully support the Digital Entrepreneurship Academy program, given that they are adaptive to new changes, and the program is in accordance with their own Islamic boarding schools independence program//ANT
MPR chairman Bambang Soesatyo during a visit to electronics-based medical device industry PT PHC Indonesia. (ANTARA/ MPR RI) -
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has highlighted the need for prioritizing national products in the procurement of medical devices.
The request has been made in keeping with Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 6 of 2016 concerning the Acceleration of Development of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industry, which was signed by President Joko Widodo on June 8, 2016.
"The Presidential Instruction is President Jokowi's political will, so it must be a spirit for all parties to build independence in the national health sector," MPR chairman Bambang Soesatyo said in a statement after visiting electronics-based medical device industry PT PHC Indonesia. The statement was received here on Friday.
Soesatyo expressed his concern over domestic medical devices not being accorded priority during procurement. In fact, some of the imported medical devices are domestic products, he said.
During his visit, he said he was impressed with the capability of PHC Indonesia, which has developed several medical devices, including ventilators and cool boxes, which are very much needed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The products developed by PHC Indonesia and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) include Ventilator Vent-I, whose clinical trials have been carried out by the University of Padjadjaran (UNPAD).
The medical device has been produced with a Domestic Content Level (TKDN) of 42.2 percent, Soesatyo noted.
The product was designed by ITB, then refined and produced by PHC Indonesia, the company said.
According to the company, the ventilator complies with the international standards for medical devices issued by the International Electronical Commission (IEC 60601), the ventilator requirements standard (IEC80601), and the Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard EN55011 - CISPR 11.The product has also passed the clinical test conducted by Padjadjaran University and a product test conducted by BPFK of the Health Ministry and has received a Circular Permit from the ministry, it added.
"The development of such products should be a priority for the government. It is unfortunate if the government's budget for the procurement of medical devices is only enjoyed by foreign manufacturers. This will not only deplete foreign exchange, but will also slow down Indonesia's efforts to build self-reliance in the health sector," Soesatyo remarked.
PHC Indonesia is a pioneer in the domestic electronics-based medical device manufacturing sector and has been operating since 1991.
Since early 2021, PHC Indonesia and ITB have produced domestic ventilators of the Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) Vent-I Essential 3.5 type, the company informed.
In addition, the company said it has produced several refrigeration devices, such as refrigerators and freezers, that are needed for vaccine storage//ANT
The Health Ministry has started distributing Moderna COVID-19 vaccines that will be administered to the general public in all provinces across Indonesia.
"The Moderna vaccine, which is allocated in the second week of August 2021, is to meet the need of administering two doses (to each recipient)," Health Ministry's spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, informed here on Thursday.
She said two doses of the Moderna vaccine would be given to recipients at an interval of four weeks.
So far, Indonesia has received over 8 million doses of the Moderna vaccine donated by the US Government through the COVAX Facility, she noted. As many as 3 million doses of the total Moderna vaccines received have been allocated for 1.4 million health workers as boosters, she disclosed.
According to Tarmizi, the remaining 5 million doses are in the process of being distributed to all regions to be allocated to the general public.
The Moderna vaccine uses a nucleoside-modified mRNA for boosting immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and preventing COVID-19 transmission, she said.
The spokesperson stated that the Ministry of Health has directed that Moderna vaccines be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of minus 25 degrees Celsius to minus 15 degrees Celsius in health office facilities.
Meanwhile, in healthcare facilities, the vaccines can be stored in a vaccine refrigerator at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, she added.
According to Tarmizi, Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine will be given to participants who have so far not received any COVID-19 vaccination.
Vaccines and logistics will be distributed to the health office in each province, and they can then coordinate the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to cities and districts, she added. (Antaranews)
The government is improving data on the COVID-19 death rate in Indonesia as there are a number of records that do not match the conditions on the ground, Minister of Communication and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate, has said.
"The government has not removed or eliminated the death toll from the assessment of the level of public activity restrictions (PPKM)," he assured in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
Improvements are currently being made to ensure data accuracy, the minister said adding, if data is tidy, the death indicator will be re-entered.
The government is continuing to work hard to harmonize and validate data from the field, regarding the indicators used for the PPKM level assessment, he said.
"There are three basic indicators used in determining the level of PPKM in an area, namely the rate of transmission, the positivity rate, and the mortality rate," he informed.
The minister said that the government found data in the form of accumulated COVID-19 patient mortality in the past few weeks, so they were not actual.
"This causes distortion in the analysis process of an area," he added.
He said the government has decided to improve the data by sorting out real-time death data on the day of a patient's death, which is currently accumulated in the death data of the central government.
For example, out of the number of deaths entered on a date, not all were actual deaths on that day, but included data that had been recorded three weeks earlier and then reported again, the minister said.
During data repair, he noted, the government will temporarily use other indicators for assessment.
Earlier, spokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jodi Mahardi, had said that the government is trying to act quickly to fix the death data to get a valid number.
As a result, the assessment result is also more accurate, Mahardi added. (Antaranews)
Indonesia received 12,505 oxygen concentrators and six thousand nasal cannulas arranged by Indonesian and Singaporean companies from Singapore on Thursday to support its COVID-19 fight.
Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, Suryo Pratomo, as well as representatives from Indonesian and Singaporean companies attended the assistance handover ceremony at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore.
The handover of assistance was also attended virtually by secretary general of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry Cecep Herawan, head of the Indonesian Health Ministry's Health Crisis Center Eka Jusup Singka, and the Indonesian Consulate General for Shanghai, Deny Kurnia.
Herawan said that collaboration and cooperation with various parties is a significant solution to free Indonesia from the pandemic.
"To flatten the curve (of COVID-19 cases), we need not only the role of the state, but also the role of business people, academics, community leaders, and also the media," he remarked.
He said the collaboration is expected to further strengthen the close and cooperative relationship between Indonesia and Singapore, in line with the spirit of the month of independence for Indonesia and Singapore, which falls in August.
Meanwhile, Health Crisis Center head Singka said that most of the assistance that had arrived in Indonesia had been distributed.
Further aid distribution will focus on areas outside Java and Bali, which are currently reported to have experienced a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, he added.
The donations are expected to help Indonesia free itself from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, he said.
The same expectation was also expressed by representatives from Indonesian and Singaporean companies that provided the assistance.
Chairperson of the Bakti Barito Foundation, Fifi Setiawaty, said that the collaboration not only showed the companies' solidarity as a business player, but also reflected a strong people-to-people relationship.
Meanwhile, DBS Bank Group chief information and head of technology & operations, Jimmy Ng, emphasized the importance of cooperation in the midst of the pandemic.
"If you want to go fast, just go alone, but if you want to go far, then we must walk together," Ng said.
Meanwhile, the companies involved in providing the assistance include Bakti Barito Foundation, DBS Bank, PT Cikarang Listrindo, PT Dharma Satya Nusantara, East Ventures, Indies Capital Partners Pte Ltd, PT Kino Indonesia Tbk, Sinarmas, Tanoto Foundation, PT TBS Energi Utama Tbk, Triputra Group, UID Foundation, Wahanan Artha, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, COMO Foundation, GrabTaxi Holdings Pte Ltd, Hotel Properties, Singtel, and Temasek Foundation. (Antaranews)
The increase recorded in the COVID-19 mortality rate in Indonesia in the last three weeks is the result of the accumulation of unreported cases, the Health Ministry has said.
"Some data has been accumulated for day or weeks -- even for several months. Hence, they become less appropriate to be used as an indicator for assessing current COVID-19 conditions in Indonesia," spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccinations at the ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said here on Wednesday afternoon.
Ministry data shows that in the last three weeks, the death toll in Indonesia has increased, with West Java, Central Java, and East Java provinces accounting for the most fatalities.
An analysis of the ministry’s National All Record (NAR) data had found that the regional governments' report did not reflect the actual figures, expert staff at the ministry, Panji Fortuna Hadisoemarto, explained.
NAR is a big data system for laboratory records managed by the ministry to aid handling of COVID-19, he added.
Most of the 2,048 deaths reported on Tuesday were not recorded the same day, but the week before, and 10.7 percent of them were recorded as confirmed cases for more than 21 days, he said. However, the deaths have now been confirmed and included in the death toll, he informed.
For instance, Bekasi City reported 397 death cases the previous day, he said in a written statement.
Ninety-four percent of them were not recorded the same day -- 57 percent were reported in July this year and 37 percent in June, the expert staff stated. Meanwhile, the remaining 6 percent were recorded in the first week of August, he added.
He also cited the example of Central Kalimantan, saying the province reported 70 deaths of which 61 percent were recorded as active cases for more than 21 days. (Antaranews)
The Transportation Ministry has issued Circular Letter Number 63/2021 on International Travel by Air Transportation Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, effective Wednesday (August 11, 2021).
"Indonesian citizens coming from abroad are allowed to enter Indonesia while conducting strict health protocols. Meanwhile, foreigners are still prohibited to enter, except those who fulfill the criteria of the Regulation of Law and Human Rights Minister Number 27/2021 and the Travel Corridor Arrangement bilateral agreement or obtain special written permission from the Indonesian ministry/agency," director general of civil aviation at the ministry, Novie Riyanto, said in a written statement issued on Wednesday.
Furthermore, all international travelers will have to carry vaccination certificates showing that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, he added.
"If the Indonesian travelers haven't received any vaccination abroad, they will be vaccinated at their quarantine sites upon their arrival in Indonesia after their second real-time PCR test with negative result has been out. The regulation also applies to foreigners aged 12-17, holders of diplomatic or service visas as well as holders of Permanent or Limited Stay Permit Cards,” he informed.
“Meanwhile, foreigners in Indonesia who want to travel domestically or internationally are required to get vaccinated through the national program or the mutual cooperation scheme in accordance with the local regulations," he said.
However, the rule on carrying COVID-19 vaccination certificates will not apply to:
a. Foreigners who hold diplomatic or service visas related to official visits of foreign officials at ministerial level and above as well as those who enter Indonesia through the Travel Corridor Arrangement.
b. Foreigners who have not been vaccinated and intend to travel from their departure city to the international airport to take international flights out of the territory of Indonesia. However, they will have to show their tickets and get permission from the Port Health Office. In addition, foreigners who have not been vaccinated and are only making a transit stop before continuing their journey on another international flight will also not need to show their vaccination certificate as long as they remain in the waiting area.
c. Foreigners aged under 18 years; and,
d. Foreigners with specific health conditions. However, they will be required to bring a certificate from a government hospital in their country of departure stating that they are unable to get vaccinated.
"I urge all passengers to thoroughly read the circular letter to correctly adjust with the new regulation," Riyanto said adding, the circular can be downloaded from the website jdih.dephub.go.id. (Antaranews)
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has assured his support for Chinese investment in Indonesia's health sector.
During the handing over of medical assistance from the Chinese government for the handling of COVID-19 in the country here on Tuesday, Minister Pandjaitan said that Indonesia will support China's investment in the health sector in the future, such as investment in vaccines, manufacturing medical devices, and building international hospitals.
"No single country can fight this pandemic alone. We must establish cooperation, solidarity and friendship between countries to be able to fight this epidemic in the future," he said in a written statement here on Wednesday.
Indonesia has again received medical assistance from the Chinese government for handling COVID-19 in the country, he noted.
The assistance included medical devices such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, oxygen nasal cannulas, and oxygen face masks, he informed. Medical devices are very much needed in the fight against the highly contagious Delta variant, he added.
The assistance from the Chinese government was handed over by the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xiao Qian, and Huawei representatives to the Indonesian government, which was represented by Minister Luhut and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
"On behalf of the Indonesian government, I would like to thank the Chinese government, Huawei and China Eastern Airlines, for this kind of cooperation and assistance provided to the Indonesian government and its people," said Pandjaitan.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Sadikin also expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by the country.
"I also appreciate what the Chinese government has given for us. Such assistance is not only helping the lives of the Indonesian people, but also is a form of humanity from the Chinese government for the Indonesian government," he said.
The Chinese government was concerned by the COVID-19 resurgence in Indonesia, Ambassador Xiao Qian said. While some of the medical aid was delivered on Monday, the rest will arrive on Friday, he informed.
"The governments of China and Indonesia are good friends, neighbors as well as partners. In the face of the pandemic, this support is a testament to China's friendship and solidarity with Indonesia," the ambassador added. (Antaranews)
The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) has said it will ensure that children who lose their parents due to COVID-19 get the level of care they need.
"We have made a data management protocol and foster protocol for children infected and affected by COVID-19; children whose parents/caregivers/guardians are infected by COVID-19; as well as children whose parents have died because of COVID-19," PPPA Minister Bintang Puspayoga said in a press release issued here on Monday.
The ministry has also issued a circular to provincial governments on preparing data on children who are separated from their parents due to self-isolation or death so they can get assistance and care, she informed.
Furthermore, the ministry has launched a call center number (129) and WhatsApp number (08111-129-192) where people can report children whose parents have died of COVID-19, she added.
"We also continue promoting the provisions for child protection, child care, child adoption and guardianship," the minister said.
The ministry is also taking preventive measures by optimizing the #BERJARAK movement to ensure women and children are safe and protected from COVID-19, Puspayoga said.
It is also optimizing Community-Based Integrated Child Protection (PATBM) to help families adapt to new habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, she informed.
"The PATBM knows the best about the children in their community. It can coordinate community-based care or find a substitute caregiver for the children separated with their families due to COVID-19," she said.
The ministry is also trying to optimize the role of families in protecting children from COVID-19, she informed. It is children’s right to be well-cared by their own parents or their foster families, she stressed. (Antaranews)