JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country as a national disaster.
The status is stipulated in Presidential Decree No. 12/2020 on the Stipulation of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Non-Natural Disaster as a National Disaster, issued on Monday (13/4).
"The non-natural disaster caused by the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in the increasing number of victims and material losses, the expansion of regions affected by the disaster, and widespread implications on socio-economic aspecs in Indonesia," President Joko Widodo wrote in the decree.
The decree also refers to the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Four main points are outlined in the decree, namely:
First, the declaration of the non-natural disaster caused by the spread of COVID-19 as a national disaster. Second, the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak is the responsibility of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force through close coordination with ministries, government agencies, and local governments.
Third, heads of local governments as Chairs of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force at regional levels must consider the central government's policies in imposing regional policies. Fourth, the decree comes into effect upon its issuance on April 13. (MS)