Jokowi Wants Military Involvement in East Java COVID-19 Handling
Translator
Editor
22 June 2020 15:23 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said President Joko Widodo or Jokowi demanded the Joint Defense Regional Commands (Kogabwilhan) be involved in the containment efforts of COVID-19 in East Java given the high rate of the coronavirus transmission in the province.
“The [President’s] orders will be carried out immediately, including the provision of some additional necessary facilities. For example, the President wants the emergency hospital in Surabaya to be monitored by the Kogabwilhan Commander II,” said Muhadjir after meeting with Jokowi at Presidential Palace, Central Jakarta, Monday, June 22.
This effort, he opined, is akin to that in Jakarta, where the Wisma Atlet emergency hospital is controlled by the Kogabwilhan Commander I. Muhadjir said the COVID-19 management support the Kogabwilhan had rendered so far had been considerably effective.
Besides, he added, military personnel were also successful in helping with the evacuation of Indonesian vessel crew and Indonesian citizens from Wuhan province.
Muhadjir said Jokowi had been keeping a close watch on the rising infection cases in East Java. Besides the province, there are two other regions that remain under surveillance, viz. South Sulawesi and South Kalimantan.
“He (President) gives orders on how to overcome the case immediately in East Java,” the Coordinating Minister added.
As of June 21, East Java recorded 9,542 COVID-19 cases with daily new cases in the neighborhood of 90. The province seized the public spotlight when it recorded its highest daily death rate of 19 on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 715, which is the highest nationwide.
Read: Ministry Still Tracing Indonesia's COVID-19 Patients Data Leak
EGI ADYATAMA