President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is currently drafting a presidential instruction (Inpres) and presidential regulation (Perpres) as the legal basis to exert more control over this year's Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, officials have said.

The President has called on the public to reduce travel between regions as the country struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus with many people beginning mudik early.

Jokowi also called on those who have traveled between regions to alert authorities and to abide by health protocols.

Read also: COVID-19: Jakarta to suspend interprovincial buses as 'mudik' persists

"The President stressed that the public’s safety is the number one priority amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This means, the public’s safety is the highest law," Presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rachman said in a statement on Monday.

Jodi Mahardi, the spokesperson of the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister, said the President also demanded officials in a Cabinet meeting on Monday to study ways to mitigate the economic impacts of the outbreak. 

The greatest concern is for the most-impacted segments of society, namely informal workers, daily wage workers and small businesses in Jakarta who have lost their source of income.

"The results [of the studies] are expected to be ready within two days and the President will make a decision on the matter," Jodi said in a statement. (trn)