Indonesia Corona Virus Update #2       March 16, 2020

President Jokowi Asks Indonesians to  Stay at Home https://www.thejakartapost.com/multimedia/2020/03/16/jokowi-calls-for-social-distancing-to-stem-virus-sprea.html     “Under the current conditions, it’s time for us to work from home, study from home and worship at home”. Jokowi, on Monday (3/16) said that only the central government can order a “lockdown” which would be difficult to impose, and he is leaning against it.

Number of reported cases: 117 (as of March 16)

Quarantine Center: government is preparing a large facility to handle Covid-19 patients on Galang Island near Batam, Riau Islands province. “The large-scale observation facility will be completed next week. I will inspect myself,” Jokowi said.  Indonesia also designated Natuna Island on the northern maritime border and Sebaru Island near Jakarta as observation and quarantine facilities for Covid-19 patients.

Rupiah Slips Even With Intervention: 14,907  (One week- High: 14,975  Low: 14,219) “We bought Rp 130 trillion worth of government bonds since the beginning of the year, around Rp 110 trillion we spent since the spread of the coronavirus in late January,” said BI Governor Perry Warjiyo.

Jakarta Stock Index:  4,690 (5,136 on March 9)

Cabinet Goes Online:  The Transportation minister tested positive for COV-19 and all Cabinet ministers as well as the President are being tested.  Rahayu Puspasari, a Finance Ministry’s spokeswoman, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and her deputies were taking the Covid-19 test, to determine their transmission risk.  Cabinet meetings are being held online.

Travel to Bali:   Thermal body scanners are now in use for both domestic and international passengers arriving in Bali

Stimulus package: US$8.1 billion was allocated from the state budget to stimulate the economy by providing tax incentives and subsidies for workers, businesses and families. affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools Go Online: More cities and provinces now follow Jakarta’s step to shut down schools in an attempt to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in their region.  Bogor, a West Java city of 1.1 million people just 60 kilometers to the south of Jakarta, said pre-school, elementary, and junior high school students would be studying at home for the next two weeks starting on Monday.