TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Papua Police Headquarters' Protocol Bureau Sen. Coms. Jeremias Rontini distributed face masks to Jayapura residents venturing outdoors on Friday to bring to their collective consciousness the ongoing risks of COVID-19 there.

During the mask-wearing campaign held at the Jayapura Mall's area, Rontini was accompanied by his colleague, Sen. Coms. Iqbal Al-Qudusy, and two ambassadors of the Papua Police Public Relations Division, Wisnu and Andi Ernawati.

According to a press statement that ANTARA received from the Papua police here, Saturday, Rontini urged the city's residents that he came across during the campaign to continue to practice the 3M+1 T health protocols while venturing outdoors.

By consistently wearing face mask, washing hands, maintaining the recommended physical distancing measures, and avoiding crowds that fall under the 3M+1 T measures, the potential spread of COVID-19 infections can be prevented, he remarked.

Meanwhile, Head of the Papua Police Headquarters' Public Relations Task Force Sen. Coms. Iqbal Al-Qudusy stated that this public awareness campaign of the importance of wearing face masks in public areas was held amid a spike in new COVID-19 cases.

"Community members are suggested to continue to practice the government's health protocols," he affirmed, adding that they were also urged to support the government's COVID-19 vaccination program in Papua.

The police's participation in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease pandemic was brought to the attention of journalists by General Listyo Sigit Prabowo shortly after taking the oath of office as Indonesia's new police chief on January 27, 2021.

Prabowo admitted to being sentient of the tough challenges that the police face while assisting the government in tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has had a huge impact on public health and the economy.

To this end, one of the endeavors that the National Police would categorically make was to find ways to convincingly enforce the government's health protocols in communities to prevent the potential spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, he emphasized.

"The people's safety is our utmost priority, and how the National Police can help safeguard the sustainable improvement of the country's national economy and economic growth," the newly installed chief of police remarked.

Akin to several other countries across the globe, Indonesia has also been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.

On Friday, January 29, 2021, Indonesia had recorded 13,802 additional COVID-19 cases, 10,138 recoveries, and 187 deaths in a single day.

With such figures, the total tally of cases had risen to 1,051,795, while total recoveries had reached 852,260, and the death toll had climbed to 29,518, according to the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling.

Indonesia currently has 170,017 active cases or patients undergoing independent care and isolation after a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. In addition, 81,497 people are suspected to have contracted the virus in the country.

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ANTARA