Indonesia takes financial, medical measures as COVID-19 cases rise
Given the surging number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, local authorities have continued its cash aid programme and issued a plan to increase the number of hospital beds by up to 30 percent.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Photo: Antaranews)
Jakarta (VNA) – Given the surging number ofCOVID-19 cases in Indonesia, local authorities have continued its cash aidprogramme and issued a plan to increase the number of hospital beds by up to 30percent.
The number of COVID-19 active cases in Indonesia soared to110,679 as of January 3.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, on January 4, kicked off anationwide launch of a cash assistance programme that was set to reach the country's34 provinces.
"In 2021, we will continue the distribution of socialassistance. In the 2021 State Budget, the government has allocated a budget of110 trillion Rp (nearly 8 billion USD) for all recipients from Sabang toMerauke and from Miangas to Rote Island," the president remarked as quotedby Indonesia’s national news agency Antara.
He said the aid is disbursed to assist the public to tacklethe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in boosting their purchasingpower.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian government is set to increase thenumber of hospital beds by up to 30 percent to address a rise in COVID-19active cases.
"The government is encouraging the optimum use of bedsat state-owned hospitals, regional government-owned general hospitals, andprivate hospitals by increasing their bed capacity by 30 percent," AirlanggaHartarto, chief of the country’s Committee for COVID-19 Handling and NationalEconomic Recovery, said at a press statement in Jakarta on January 4 as quotedby Antara.
According to Hartarto, the government will increase thenumber of medical workers employed at health service facilities.
The government will also strengthen the implementation ofCOVID-19 handling procedures, particularly at non-referral places, and increasesurveillance of cases through testing, tracing, and self-quarantine," he added./.
Indonesia on January 3 started nationwide distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine that was developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech and mass inoculations are scheduled to begin later this month.
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Photo: Antaranews) 
