The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered massive layoffs globally, hammering industries, particularly in the tourism sector, and forcing closures of schools, hotels, restaurants, amusement centers, and factories, and people to stay home. No exception, Indonesia has also been affected,  where the government has projected unemployment in Indonesia to rise by five million in the face of the economic pressure …

In effort to handle impact due to coronavirus, the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) announced that it is currently offering public mental health consultations. This program will be launched to help people overcome the uncertain developments amidst the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It considers as crucial as physical health services, especially in the midst of daily activities confined in the house due …

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has finally decided and officially barred – after much criticism – all citizens from traveling to their hometowns or mudik during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations in a bid to curb the COVID-19 outbreak which has recorded 6,760 positive cases in Indonesia “At today’s meeting, I decided that the ban will be applied on the ‘mudik’ (Eid …

Covid-19 pandemic has affected to almost all aspects of the lives of the Indonesia’s population. One of them is crimes, especially after the Justice and Human Rights Ministry released more than 38,000 prisoners this month to prevent the virus outbreaks inside Indonesia’s overcrowded jails. Therefore, the National Police will carry out more street patrols and raids in anticipation of rising …

The Thai Trade Centre (TTC) in Hong Kong said the price of Thai jasmine rice in the city has risen after people began hoarding supplies, while the import of Thai rice to Hong Kong rose by 2 to 3 tonnes in the first quarter of the year. Chanunpat Pisanapipong, executive director of TTC in Hong Kong, said the pandemic and …

There is an alleged corruption on the government’s COVID-19 aid that was distributed to residents directly affected by the pandemic. The Depok City administration is reportedly investigating on this report, which the devious act is said to have been committed by a local community leader (RT). This corruption related to the social assistance (Bansos), according to Depok Mayor Mohammad Idris …

As a result of the government’s distancing policy, which among others, requires people to work from home, several business sectors are asking for a relief program from the government, including telecommunications companies. This request to cope with a sharp decline in their revenues due to the social distancing policy imposed since mid-March to halt the spread of COVID-19. Telecommunications providers …

The Commuter Line rail service to continue operating during the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek). This is the decision of the government through Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is also acting transportation minister despite growing calls from all regional administrations to temporarily halt the service to “flatten the curve” of …

The rapid tests with drive-through facility have been opened by Siloam Hospitals Group and Lippo Malls Indonesia. The drive-through testing sites are open for those who develop coronavirus-like symptoms but don’t want to go to hospital too soon. “The drive-through allows a faster and safer Covid-19 screening because it minimizes physical contact between the lab technicians and the test taker. …

Cash assistance in Riau Province Social assistance will be provided to families that affected by outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19 in some regions. The Riau provincial government will provide Rp600 thousand in social assistance to each of around 250 thousand families in the province. “Cash assistance of Rp600 thousand will be given to each family for three …