VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The radio of the Republic of Indonesia (RRI) will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sep. 11, 2020. The celebration had to be held during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the country is declared to be infected with the virus, RRI responded immediately with strategic responses to keep the country safe.

M. Rohanudin, RRI Managing Director, said that after the virus hit Indonesia, RRI focuses all its programs on Covid-19 issues, mainly dedicated to prevent and inform the public about Covid-19.

All the instructions to combat the lethal virus are broadcasted in all regional programs (Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 4 RRI), and national program (Pro 3 RRI). Pro 3 RRI is on air for 24 hours every day, thanks to 224 relay stations and other supporting regional stations.

Rohanudin said other than Covid-19 programs, RRI also includes a special program for students, “Learning in Pro 2 RRI) which is in collaboration with schools throughout Indonesia. Teachers interact with students who are studying from home. He said teachers, students, and parents lauded the program.

“The program is a media for teachers who miss their students. Some students even cried because they have not seen their teachers for a long time,” Rohanudin said.

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and several regional heads gave their support and appreciation to the program.

Another achievement by RRI during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Rohanudin, is producing songs “Bye Corona” and “National Songs Medley” and play it in all RRI stations (67 stations), RRI.Net, and RRI YouTube channel, and national TV channels (TVRI, RTV, and Indosiar). The National Song Medley conveyed appreciation to the media, doctors, nurses, National Army, National Police, and all humanitarian staffs involved in handling the Covid-19.

Entering the holy month of Ramadan, RRI produced Tala’al Badru shalawah recited by charismatic Muslim preachers.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, RRI listeners increase by 40 percent in early March 2020 and up to 50 percent by August.

Pro 3 RRI is also the front line in informing Covid-19 preventions by sharing all government mandates to the public and also presenting ministers, experts, and President’s spokesperson to inform the public directly.

In celebrating RRI’s 75th anniversary, Soleman Yusuf, head of the event committees who is also Program and Production Director, said that all events will follow strict health protocols. They limit participants to fill only 50 percent of the room.

The events are including Jazz Nite which presented popular Jazz musicians such as Madame & Toean, Payung Teduh, and Finggo & Friends on Sep. 7, Wayang puppet show “Ketoprak Kangen Cak Kirun and Friends” on Sep. 9, trip to Kalibata National Hero Cemetery, sharing 1,000 face masks in Bundaran HI Jakarta, and national ceremony on Sep. 11 at RRI Office Jakarta.

The ceremony will be followed by a music concert, presenting Judika, Rossa, Ikke Nurjanah, Andi Rizkha, Didik Nini Thowok, and Aminoto Kosim. The whole event will be aired on RRI stations.

Despite being the second most infected country in the world with over 4.2 million cases, India announced it would reopen its prime tourist attraction, Taj Mahal.

"The Taj Mahal will reopen on September 21. All Covid-19 protocols, like physical distancing, masks will be followed," Amit Srivastava, northern Uttar Pradesh state's Tourism Department deputy director told AFP on Tuesday.

They limit the daily visits of tourists up to 5,000 people from the previous 20,000 visits.

The Taj Mahal has been closed since mid-March as part of a lockdown effort to prevent the spread of the virus. Uttar Pradesh, the city where the temple is located, is the worst-hit city with over 270,000 Covid-19 cases.

The opening of the Taj Mahal by India aims to encourage and improve its economy due to the virus, even as Covid-19 infections continue to increase.

Since August, India has been the country with the highest daily cases of coronavirus in the world. (RRI)

The government continues to intensify the use of masks to the public to reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes COVID-19.

Wiku Adisasmito, Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, asked all parties to campaign for masks as an effort to protect themselves and others.

"Do not let our droplets affects other parties. If more than 75 percent of the population uses masks, then COVID-19 cases can drop drastically," Wiku said in a press statement on Tuesday.

Wiku also revealed that based on the results of research in America, the use of cloth masks by 80 percent of the population will reduce 34 to 58 percent of additional cases of death. The results of the study state that the use of masks reduces the increase in new cases and deaths.

"Let's prove this is our common target because we want to protect ourselves and we want to protect the country," he concluded. (RRI)

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues a level 4 travel advisory for Indonesia.

US citizens are urged to avoid or postpone travel to Indonesia as much as possible due to a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19.

The CDC's official page states US citizens who contracted Covid-19 in Indonesia might find it difficult to get the services they needed.

"Do not travel to Indonesia due to COVID-19, terrorism, and natural disasters. Indonesia has lifted stay at home orders and resumed some transportation options and business operations," the website stated.

Responding to this, Wiku Adisasmito, spokesman for the COVID-19 Task Force said all countries must remind their citizens to avoid trips that have the potential to transmit imported Covid-19 cases, including Indonesia.

"We need to convey that COVID-19 is still a pandemic, so there is no country free from COVID. All countries try to protect their citizens, including Indonesia, so we must avoid travel to prevent imported cases," Wiku said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"As long as we can maintain or limit the mobility of the population between countries, and within this vast country of Indonesia, that is our way of controlling cases properly," Wiku said.

Wiku also asked all Indonesian citizens to protect their respective regions. He urged citizens not to travel unless there are important matters.

"We ask all Indonesian citizens to limit their mobility, only take essential trips, and carry out health protocols like what we advise to prevent additional cases," he said. (RRI)

Do not travel Indonesia due to COVID-19, terrorism, and natural disasters.