TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo stated that Indonesia recently witnessed a surge in COVID-19 imported cases, demanding staffers be more aware and take anticipatory measures to deal with the problem.

“We also see an increase in the number of imported cases,” said the President when opening a limited meeting on the evaluation and report of the national COVID-19 handling task force at State Palace, Monday, July 13.

To overcome this issue, he asked all of his staffers to improve their vigilance at border posts of Indonesian territory. When the novel coronavirus first hit Indonesia in March, the number of infections from aboard was reportedly high. However, after the closure and tight monitoring at the country’s entrance gates, the cases started to emerge from the local spread.

“We must further tighten the control in border areas and cross-border travel and transportation,” the state head asserted.

Jokowi stopped short of detailing the hike in imported cases and from what country the cases originated. However, the country’s entrance and exit gates were not widely opened to date. Several restrictions were still enforced, for example, people are still mandated to present a document of their negative result of the rapid test before having a trip.

A large wave of Indonesian citizens returning from abroad reportedly occurred before the fasting month Ramadan and after Eid al-Fitr, and they were obliged to undergo quarantine in several places prepared by the government. They were allowed to go back home once they were declared free from COVID-19.

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EGI ADYATAMA