President Joko Widodo today described implementation of the so-called “new normal” as “dynamic,” as it will depend on the development of daily COVID-19 cases across the country.
Jokowi said the government will not hesitate to restore restrictions that were recently loosened for the new normal period — a term officials have used to describe life alongside COVID-19 in Indonesia — should there be a rise in the daily official count of coronavirus cases.
“I need to remind you all that should there be an increase in cases, we will immediately implement stronger restrictions or closure,” Jokowi said today during his visit to the office of Indonesia’s COVID-19 Task Force at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) building.
He called on regional leaders to conduct routine evaluation, especially those who have implemented the new normal in their respective regions. Furthermore, Jokowi said they should prepare for a possible second wave of COVID-19 transmissions and warned that the new normal period should not be implemented in haste.
“Do a routine evaluation, once again do not let your guard down just because of a decline of new cases in certain regions, as everything is dynamic. The success of COVID-19 control is very much determined by discipline and health protocols,” Jokowi continued.
The president also added that everyone should stay optimistic when it comes to curbing the spread of the viral disease in the hopes that life could go back to normal again.
Today marked the highest single-day increase in the country’s official COVID-19 count to date with 1,241 new cases, as the government begins to loosen social restrictions in transition to the new normal. As of today, Indonesia currently has 34,316 confirmed cases with 12,129 recoveries and 1,959 deaths.
It is not immediately clear if the latest official update will be met with a new shift in the country’s official approach amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as the central government and a number of regional administrations have begun to ease restrictions and allowed public activities to restart.
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