Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said the government had prepared a budget of Rp 1 trillion, or around $70 million, to be channelled through the Health Ministry to try to contain the Covid-19 outbreak and care for patients already infected with coronavirus.

"The funding will pay for personal protective equipment, surveillance at airports, ports and other entry gates to Indonesia, hospital treatment and procurement of referral hospital infrastructure. We estimate we will need around Rp 1 trillion for the Health Ministry," Sri Mulyani said at a press conference on the Covid-19 stimulus package in Jakarta on Friday.

According to Sri Mulyani, the budget will also include funding to track people who have made contact with Covid-19 victims and to coordinate central and local governments' response to the pandemic.

The budget also has provisions for purchasing disinfectants for public transportation, business centers and recreation areas, as well as for purchasing facemasks and medicines.

"The government will pay for the treatment of all patients who have contracted Covid-19," she said.

The Finance Minister said the stimulus package will allow the Health Ministry not to worry about budgetary constraints while trying to limit the spread of Covid-19, which has so far infected 34 people and killed one in Indonesia..

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-sets-aside-70-million-to-fight-covid1