According to the data we have received, (the curve of) COVID-19 cases in several areas has begun to flatten. I think it will not take them a long time (to reduce their COVID-19 case load)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is mulling a plan to ease social restrictions in several regions which have begun to see a downward trend in COVID-19 infections.

"According to the data we have received, (the curve of) COVID-19 cases in several areas has begun to flatten. I think it will not take them a long time (to reduce their COVID-19 case load)," he said during the handing over of health facility assistance from Bank DBS in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said social restrictions in some regions such as Bali, Manado, and Yogyakarta may be eased to boost their economy.

However, he refused to elaborate on the aim of easing social restrictions in the regions although they are known tourist destinations.

"If that happens, we will also plan to ease (social restrictions in) several places. Maybe (we will do that) in Bali, Manado, Yogyakarta, Batam, and Bintan, which have the least cases (of novel coronavirus)," the minister said.

He said the plan would also depend on the trend in COVID-19 cases in the next two weeks.

“But, if we look at the data, today has been better than yesterday. Of course, we strongly believe (the decline) will occur," he added.

He said he believed coronavirus cases in Indonesia will soon decline since the task forces have begun to work more effectively.

"The task forces are getting more effective and better," he reiterated.

Government spokesperson for COVID handling, Achmad Yurianto, said earlier in the day that 231 more COVID-19 patients have recovered in Indonesia, taking the total count of recoveries to 3,518 out of 16,000 people testing positive for the virus.