The COVID-19 outbreak, declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization last week, has spread to more than 130 countries worldwide, forcing governments to take matters into their own hands to contain the virus, Retno told The Jakarta Post in an interview.

She pointed out that different countries made different assessments of the situation. She noted that some were extreme, such as the complete lockdown of Italy, while other responses were more measured, like the partial lockdowns in China’s Hubei province and of Metro Manila in the Philippines. However, she refused to say whether one approach could be justified as being better or worse than others.

“I am not in the capacity to say which one is better because it all depends on the country's assessment of the challenges faced,” the minister said when asked if Indonesia would consider a drastic measure such as a lockdown.

“While we also follow the latest developments, the man in charge here is the health minister, who will determine what we do – and we are in constant consultation [with him].”

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, who has been criticized at home and abroad for his handling of the crisis in Indonesia, argued on Friday that a lockdown was not yet necessary, prioritizing instead the mobilization of more preventive measures that includes disinfecting places of worship and self-care.

Retno also defended earlier Indonesian policies that involved restricting travel to and from other countries, saying they were introduced based on the recommendations of WHO. This includes an active travel ban involving China that was introduced in early February, as well as a ban on travelers who had recently visited certain areas in South Korea, Italy and Iran – currently the three most-affected countries – which was enforced at the beginning of this month.

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