TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has today, June 8, held the first offline, limited meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in the middle of March. To ensure the implementation of health protocols, participants are obliged to maintain a safe distance during the session.

“Of course, the number [of participants] is not much. The room capacity is cut by 50 percent,” said the Presidential Secretariat Head, Heru Budi Hartono, to reporters on Monday, June 8.

Heru explained that in the meeting held at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, the seating distance is set up to two meters. Previously during the pandemic, the president established virtual meetings.

“We have to start all activities again under strict health protocols and be discipline to avoid Covid-19,” Heru said.

As previously reported, President Jokowi began to perform Friday prayer at Baiturrahim Mosque in Jakarta Palace last week, the first prayer in congregation during the ongoing pandemic, after the central government banned all mass religious activities in an effort to contain the virus spread.

According to Heru, this was a form of living a life with a new normal order. After the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the government had prepared the implementation of a new normal life while maintaining strict health protocols.

“Economic activities must be resumed so people can restart their activities and be productive for the country and their family,” Heru said.

EGI ADYATAMA