TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representative (DPR) Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung, criticized a number of regional heads who have made their own decisions by establishing a regional quarantine policy or lockdown to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, in spite of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo stressing that the regional government has no right to set a lockdown.

President Jokowi has also conveyed that the central government will not be taking up a lockdown policy to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.

"So, it is better for all Regional Heads to follow the instructions and policies of the Central Government, especially in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Do not take steps on your own, let alone steps that seem panicked. If the regional heads would panic, how will the people be," Doli expressed through a written statement on Friday, March 27, 2020.

The latest data as of March 26, 2020, points out that COVID-19 has spread to 27 provinces and the number of positive patients reaching 893 people, with 78 deceased and 35 recovered.

With the national outbreak of COVID-19, a number of regions have decided to quarantine their territories. Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo, for example, has implemented a semi-lockdown in Surakarta since March 13, 2020.

On the other hand, the Tegal City Government will be implementing a total quarantine or a full lockdown starting from March 30, 2020, following one of their residents being positively infected by COVID-19.

Papua Governor Lukas Enembe temporarily closed access to people and restricted passenger travel from the sea and air. Similar to Papua, Maluku Governor Murad Ismail has also adopted the same policy.

DEWI NURITA