TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has asked his cabinet ministers to develop a breakthrough to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I demand a breakthrough that the public can see and is expected to generate impacts on the acceleration of this (COVID-19) handling,” said the President in a limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Monday, June 29.

The innovation requested by the state head is one that significantly supports the implementation of the health protocols. “I ask [the ministers] to prepare a breakthrough, something new which we work together and have a big effect on society so that it truly complies with the existing health protocols.”

The face-to-face meeting took place under the health protocols and was attended by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, the ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, and the leaders of state institutions.

“It (innovation) can be carried out by increasing the number of personnel from the central government or medical personnel from the central government to provinces outside of Jakarta that report a high trend in [virus] transmission,” the President added.

Jokowi also called for more medical equipment and management of medical personnel in a number of provinces facing high COVID-19 spread. “If we don't do something and are still being like this, there won't be any significant progress [on COVID-19 mitigation].”

Read: Jokowi Calls for Immediate Spending on Govt's Health Budget

ANTARA