The Democratic Party urged President Joko Widodo to lockdown areas hit by COVID-19. (Image via Bali Express)

Democrats urge Jokowi to lockdown Indonesia

The Democratic Party urged President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), to declare national lockdown on several areas in Indonesia to battle the rapid outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia is getting larger, the party deemed that it is safer to declare lockdown.

Speaking on Sunday, a member of the People’s Representative Council from Democratic Party, Putu Supadma Rudana, delivered the aspiration from his party. Putu said that the lockdown could begin from three main “gates” of Indonesia: Bali, Batam, and Jakarta.

Judging by the worsening situation, Putu also asked Jokowi to pay attention and take a serious action recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Previously, through a letter, the WHO asked Indonesia to improve its emergency mechanism on preventing COVID-19’s outbreak from going further. The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that one of the actions is declaring a state of national emergency.

Supporting WHO’s statement, Putu said that the government should not delay acting against the COVID-19. Furthermore, the Indonesian government should calm and take appropriate measures on tackling the COVID-19. A few weeks will do, said Putu.

Putu also hoped that the Indonesian government would actively report and cooperate with the WHO and other healthcare agencies to reflect Indonesia’s concrete action. Previously, Indonesia’s Health Minister, Terawan Agus Putranto, said that there is no need for lockdown option to battle COVID-19.

Source: https://bit.ly/3aYRB8K