TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jokowi declares COVID-19 health emergency, imposes large-scale social restrictions
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo declared a public health emergency on Tuesday over the increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths across the country.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Presiden Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gives a press statement about COVID-19 on March 16 in Bogor presidential palace, West Java. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is declaring a COVID-19 public health emergency on Tuesday over the increasing numbers of infections and deaths across the country.
“We are taking the option of imposing large-scale social restrictions […] as stipulated by Law No.6/2018 on health quarantines. We have also issued a government regulation on social restrictions, as well as a presidential decree on the emergency status,” Jokowi said.
The President urged local and regional leaders to follow current regulations and not issue their own regulations. Jokowi said he had ordered the National Police to legally enforce the restrictions, but he did not explain what measures security personnel could take.
President Jokowi had previously ordered his Cabinet on Monday to impose stricter rules on physical distancing coupled with "civil emergency policies" in an effort to contain the worsening COVID-19 outbreak.
Indonesian health authorities have confirmed 1,414 COVID-19 positive cases across the country as of Monday, with 122 fatalities and 75 recoveries. (kuk)
