President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) launched 55 products developed by Indonesian researchers to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Today, we are proud to see that with our own hands, we can make products that we need," President Jokowi remarked at the launch of innovative products for handling the COVID-19 pandemic held through teleconference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The products were developed by the Consortium of Research and Innovation for COVID-19.

Research and Technology Minister/Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Bambang Brodjonegoro was among the attendees at the launch to commemorate National Awakening Day.

At the launch, the president introduced nine products that are ready for mass production. The products include the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test kit to diagnose COVID-19 transmission and rapid test kit to detect antibody responses to coronavirus.

Jokowi revealed that the consortium had produced 100 thousand rapid test kits and PCR test kits respectively.

The third product is the ventilator used for those suffering from breathing problems developed by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) in cooperation with some universities and industry.

"I have seen emergency ventilator developed by BPPT, ITB (Bandung Institute of technology), UI (university of Indonesia), UGM (Gadjah Mada University), and PT Dharma, PT Poly Jaya. They have begun producing the ventilator," Jokowi noted.

The other products are the immunomodulator, Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect COVID-19, convalescent plasma, mobile laboratory with Bio-Safety Level-2, Autonomous UVC Mobile Robot (AUMR), and Purifying Respirator.

Jokowi expressed hope that development of the products would reduce dependence on the imports of healthcare products, for which continuous research is deemed necessary.

"This must be continued to enable mass production to meet the domestic demand as well as exports," he added. (ANTARA)

A resident found violating large-scale social restrictions in Jakarta was ordered to clean the street in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, as Public Security Agency (Satpol PP) looks on.

Governor of Jakarta Anies Bawesdan projects normalcy to be restored in the capital and local residents resuming activities after the third round of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) ends.

"If we all remain disciplined, Jakarta can return to a new normal. Many people usually call it a new normal to refer to a new situation instead of a pre-pandemic situation," he remarked at the Jakarta City Hall on Tuesday.

However, if in the subsequent two weeks, all residents infer that the PSBB is over and they can amass or congregate, then the transmission of COVID-19 will potentially increase, he cautioned.

"Remember that we were once in figure four (meaning one person transmits the disease to four other people) in March. We do not want to return to that position. We want to maintain the current position that is expected to improve further," he noted.

In the past couple of months since the imposition of PSBB, Jakarta residents can work together to control the spread of coronavirus, he remarked, adding that Jakarta’s residents are expected to not reduce their adherence to a disciplined lifestyle.

"This is not yet over. I want to underscore that there is no relaxation. Do not think it is relaxed. Do not feel that it is over," he stated.

"Neither should you embark on mudik (idul Fitri exodus). Please stay in Jakarta. We must ensure that our capital will really be able to contain the spread of COVID-19, " he added.  (ANTARA)

Some 59 Indonesian citizens impacted by the Indian government's lockdown policy to fight the transmission of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have flown back to Jakarta from the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday morning.

The 59 Indonesians were repatriated aboard an Air India flight AI 13081 that took off from the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 6:31 a.m. local time and was scheduled to arrive at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 2:45 p.m. local time.

Apart from the 59 Indonesians, comprising 38 tourists, 10 students, three badminton players, and seven professionals, the aircraft also flew 13 Indian citizens and a Russian national, the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi noted in a press statement on Wednesday.

The same aircraft will carry several Indian citizens in Jakarta to their country of origin, the Indonesian embassy noted, adding that this repatriation was testament to the Indonesian government's commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.

"Offering protection to all Indonesian citizens abroad has become a priority in our diplomacy, especially in the time of crisis," Indonesian Ambassador to India Arto Suryodipuro was quoted as saying.

Before boarding the Air India flight, the Indonesian embassy's task force personnel briefed them on the healthcare protocols that they should follow, including wearing hazmat suits and face masks, during the flight and until their arrival.

The task force personnel also equipped them with several travel documents, including notifications corroborating their good health and not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and eligible for boarding the aircraft, according to the Indonesian embassy.

Coronavirus infections initially emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019. Since then, COVID-19 has spread to at least 213 countries and territories, including India and Indonesia, with a massive hike in death toll.

The Indonesian Government officially confirmed the country's first cases on March 2 this year.

To contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, the government has enforced large-scale social restrictions and distancing measures in several cities, including Jakarta, Bogor, Bekasi, Surabaya, and Makassar. (ANTARA)

Some 30,098 medical and non-medical volunteers have joined the forces to stem the spread of the COVID-19 disease caused by a new type of coronavirus, according to the COVID-19 task force volunteer coordinator Andre Rahadian.

"We are cooperating with various social and youth organizations, so that despite over 30 thousand having registered, the number of those working on the field reaches more than 100 thousand," he stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Rahadian noted that out of the 30,098 volunteers, 7,115 were medical volunteers and 22,983 were non-medical volunteers spread across Indonesia, though 70 percent are on duty in Java, the epicenter of the spread of COVID-19.

"As many as 80 percent of them are 40 years of age and under, so they are relatively safe from contracting COVID-19 and can work optimally," he stated.

In addition to volunteers under the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 and coordinated by community and youth organizations, Rahadian pointed out that 15 thousand student volunteers had registered through the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Volunteers in the medical field comprise doctors, midwives, and nurses, whereas those in the non-medical sector are engaged in logistics and general administration.

"Non-medical volunteers also play a role in collecting data on people under monitoring, patients under surveillance, and communities affected by COVID-19 economically, as well as provide counseling to the community," Rahadian expounded.

Indonesia’s coronavirus case count has risen to 18,496 as of Tuesday, with 4,467 people recovering from the virus and 1,221 individuals succumbing to the disease, Achmad Yurianto, the government's spokesperson for COVID-19 response, confirmed.

"Let us take a broad look. (We can see) that transmission is ongoing," Yurianto stated at a press conference held by the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Response on Tuesday at Graha BNPB here.

Since Monday noon, Indonesia recorded 486 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 18,496 cases. Coronavirus infections have been reported across 390 districts and cities in 34 provinces in Indonesia.

In the meantime, the number of people recovering from the novel coronavirus disease has spiked by 143 on Tuesday, Yurianto remarked.

Furthermore, the task force has recorded 30 new deaths, thereby raising the death toll to 1,221.

According to Yurianto, the government had tested 202,936 specimens using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and molecular rapid tests (TCM). (ANTARA)