VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently exchanged Eid al-Fitr greetings, and discussed COVID-19 response over the phone conversation, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said at a press conference here on Thursday. The Foreign Minister said the two leaders also exchanged views on the implementation of the new normal and keeping the community productive, but safe from the novel coronavirus disease. The Indonesian government is currently preparing to implement a new normal order in a number of areas that have low COVID-19 transmission rates. Under the new normal, people would be allowed to carry out normal activities, but will be required to adhere to strict health protocols, such as maintaining a safe distance, wearing masks, and washing hands frequently. Initially, the new normal will be implemented in 25 districts in four provinces. It will also be introduced in certain sectors, including tourism//ANT

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Indonesia will follow the World Health Organization’s lead, in suspending the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment, as part of the global Solidarity Trials, according to the COVID-19 task force. Team leader of the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling, Wiku Adisasmito, said during a press conference on Thursday in Jakarta as quoted by Antara. Wiku confirmed the WHO has temporarily halted Solidarity Trials of hydroxychloroquine, and said it will provide the results of its final assessment regarding the use of the malaria drug for COVID-19 treatment in two weeks. More than 30 countries are participating in the Solidarity Trial, a WHO initiative for joint research and clinical testing to develop drugs and therapies for COVID-19 treatment. The Solidarity Trial will compare standard treatment against treatment using four types of drugs, namely remdesivir, liponavir / ritonavir, liponavir / ritonavir combined with beta-1 interferon, and chloroquine//ANT

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) spoke of having prepared a stimulus of Rp34 trillion, to relax payments of instalment and to subsidize credit interest for farmers and fishermen. This incentive was being offered to reduce production costs for farmers and fishermen during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Jokowi stated while opening a limited cabinet meeting on incentives for farmers and fishermen, for maintaining the availability of staple foods, held at the Merdeka Palace here on Thursday as quoted by Antara. Fiscal incentives from the government will be channelled through the People's Business Credit Program, Fostering Prosperous Family Economy Program (PNM Mekaar), Pawnshops of Ultra Micro Credit, and also programs in other finance companies.President said he hope that the agriculture and fisheries businesses would become better through the availability of seeds and fertilizer production equipment//ANT

Cyprus has pledged to cover the holiday costs of anyone who tests positive for the virus after travelling there. In a letter made public on Wednesday, the government said it would pay for accommodation, medicine and food for patients and their families. As quoted by BBC.com ( 27/5) tourists "will only need to bear the cost of their airport transfer and repatriation flight. It is part of a package of measures aimed at drawing visitors back to the island, which has reported few cases. According to Johns Hopkins University data, the country has confirmed 939 infections and 17 deaths. Tourism accounted for about 15% of the country's GDP last year, and so the government is straining to bring back travellers as soon as possible//BBC