PALANGKA RAYA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. Responding to the virtual meeting earlier from the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, the Provincial Government of Central Kalimantan immediately held a meeting with the Regency/Municipality Governments to discuss the handling of COVID-19 pandemic in Central Kalimantan Province.

Central Kalimantan Governor H. Sugianto Sabran chaired the Follow-Up Meeting on President’s directions in handling COVID-19 Pandemic, at Jayang Tingang Hall, Governor’s Office, Palangka Raya on Monday (7/2/2022).

The meeting was attended by the Regents/Mayor along with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum of Regencies/Municipality in Central Kalimantan, including the Regional Police Chief Inspector General Pol Nanang Avianto, Regional Commander of 102/Pjg Brigadier General Yudianto Putrajaya, and Acting Provincial Secretary Nuryakin.

As directed by the President, Governor Sugianto Sabran reminded regents and mayor to continue to increase awareness against COVID-19 pandemic, especially the Omicron variant. Recently, there has been a spike in COVID-19 cases in various regions in Indonesia, including Central Kalimantan.

“What the President said earlier that Omicron is spreading so quickly,” said Central Kalimantan Governor Sugianto Sabran when giving directions at the meeting.

Therefore, Governor Sugianto Sabran asked all ranks of the Provincial Government and Regency/Municipality Governments to cooperate with the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Indonesian National Police to take steps to strengthen the prevention and handling of the pandemic, especially by continuing to intensify dissemination on health protocols and vaccination. “Let’s work together to solve this (vaccination),” commanded the Governor.

In addition, other strengthening measures that need to be taken include strengthening cross-sectoral coordination, enforcing justice, strengthening 3T, optimizing Task Forces in neighborhood (RT/RW), increasing COVID-19 detection at arrivals gates, providing centralized self-isolation facilities, tightening travel mobility, and ensuring the availability of medicines and infrastructure in health facilities.

Furthermore, the Governor also emphasized that the disbursement of the budget for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force could be accelerated. “I hope this issue become our common concern especially for Regents/Mayor as the Chairmen at Regency/Municipality Task Force level, I as the Governor and also as the Chairman of Provincial Task Force. The task force funds are important,” concluded Governor Sugianto Sabran.

Also attended the meeting directly at Jayang Tingang Hall were Assistant for Economy and Development Leonard S. Ampung, Head of the Health Service Suyuti Syamsul, Chief Executive of the Disaster Management and Fire Fighting Agency Falery Tuwan, as well as a number of Heads of regional government institutions/other related agencies. (set/may/ben/transl.feb)