Indonesia Among Top 5 Countries Succeed in Handling COVID-19: Airlangga

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto claimed that Indonesia was among the top five countries that had successfully mitigated the COVID-19 pandemic and optimally boosted the national economic recovery. 

According to him, it is evident from the hike in the recovery rate and the drop in the country’s economic contraction that is not as deep as other states.

“The recovery rate as of October 11 was 76.48 percent, higher than the global rate of 75 percent, following the decrease in active cases in several provinces,” said Airlangga in a press conference at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Office, Jakarta, Monday, October 12.

He mentioned that based on the latest data, Indonesia’s current active cases was at 19.97 percent. Although the case fatality rate was still higher than the global average, Airlangga said the pandemic response in eight cities classified as red zones showed a positive trend.

At present, he went on, the government was focusing on micro-management in several cities, such as South Jakarta, East Jakarta, Pekanbaru, Depok, Bekasi, Ambon, and others, and continued to provide aids for the public and the business sector.

Airlangga added that the government was also pushing for the provision of COVID-19 vaccines. Indonesia has been working with China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop Sinovac, Cansino, and G-42 vaccines that were predicted to start entering the country early November.

Read: COVID-19 Task Force Claims Drop in Active Cases in Past Month

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA