TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Newly-installed National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo has asked Air Force Chief Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo to combine forces in beefing up monitoring in a number of public places, particularly those serving as centers of people’s mobility, in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Such as terminals, particularly those relative to our friends in the Air Force, like airport terminals, [terminals of] air freight and air passengers, which of course have become our concerns so that together we can step up our monitoring,” Sigit said after meeting with Fadjar at the Air Force Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Monday, February 1, 2021.

Sigit hoped the amplified monitoring could supress the number of COVID-19 active cases, and that he aimed at bringing down the figure in one to two weeks.

“We have agreed to intensify or operations in the field, so the number of COVID-19 cases can be lowered in one or two weeks,” Sigit said.

Responding to Sigit’s request, Fadjar said the Air Force was set to join forces with the National Police in handling COVID-19, what with the enforcement of the public activity restrictions (PPKM) in the provinces across Java and Bali islands.

“The Air Force is ready to carry out its task of handling the COVID-19 pandemic through the government’s PPKM and 5M (wearing face masks, washing hands with soap and running water, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, restricting mobilization and interaction) policies.

Read: Jokowi Admits PPKM Social Restrictions Ineffective to Curb COVID-19 Transmission

ANDITA RAHMA