Members of the Indonesian Red Cross disinfect a school amid concerns over the COVID-19 in Jakarta on Wednesday. AFP
Indonesia is reallocating a total of 17.17 trillion rupiah ($1.13 billion) from the 2020 state budget for coronavirus response, its finance minister said on Wednesday, after the Southeast Asian country reported 172 COVID-19 cases.
The sum was initially earmarked for non-priority spending, such as overseas business trips, and projects that have now been delayed, Sri Mulyani Indrawati told an online news conference.
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She also said the government's revenue collection was under pressure with income from the natural resources sector falling sharply.
Meanwhile, Indonesia will prohibit the entry and transit of visitors from six European countries plus Iran from March 20 due to coronavirus concerns, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
For the next month, all travellers who wish to visit Indonesia will also have to obtain a health certificate from their home countries and must apply for a visa from Indonesian missions, the ministry said in a statement.
Restrictions for travellers from China and South Korea's Daegu City and Gyeongsangbuk-do province remain in place, the ministry said.
Reuters