A man sprays disinfectant at Taman Sari site in Yogyakarta palace complex, Indonesia, March 31, 2020. Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday declared a public health emergency status in a bid to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. (Photo by Damar/Xinhua)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday declared a public health emergency status in a bid to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
"The government declares a public health emergency status," he told media during a teleconference briefing.
The government, he said, has decided to implement a large scale social restrictions policy following his cabinet meeting on efforts to prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus. The 2018 Law on Health Quarantine is the legal basis of the policy.
Widodo also urged regional administrations to comply with the policy.
"Don't create your own policy," he said.
As of Tuesday, Indonesia has recorded 136 deaths of COVID-19 and 1,528 confirmed cases, according to the government's spokesman for all coronavirus-related matters Achmad Yurianto.
