Jusuf Kalla Advises Lockdown If Coronavirus Spread Worsens
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13 March 2020 19:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla or JK suggested a city lockdown if the novel coronavirus or the COVID-19 infection transmission became rampant.
He said many countries had resorted to this option. “If it gets worse, the option chosen by most countries is a lockdown in a bid to minimize people’s movement both from outside and inside the country,” said Kalla at the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) office in Jenggala, South Jakarta, Friday, March 13.
JK then mentioned the regional isolation carried out by the governments of China, Italy, the Philippines, as well as several cities in Saudi Arabia. China, the first epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, succeeded to curb the infection case after a lockdown, he added.
“China managed to control it [the virus spread] after closing its city (Wuhan). Mecca, Medina, Rome, and Manila are also put on lockdown. Many cities have done so,” he said.
However, JK said the decision to kick off such large-scale isolation was under the government's authority. He asserted that careful preparations, logistics availability, and a sense of discipline were necessary for a lockdown.
“The logistics supply must be prepared well to maintain sufficient foods in the city,” Jusuf Kalla underlined.
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