Jakarta (ANTARA) – State-owned vaccine manufacturer Bio Farma has begun the third phase of the clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine from China-based biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech on Thursday. “On the occasion of our 130th anniversary today on Thursday (August 6), we will start the clinical trial for development of the COVID-19 vaccine,” Bio Farma President Director Honesti Basyir stated during a virtual ceremony to celebrate the pharmaceutical firm’s anniversary in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday. Basyir pointed to the wild rush among nations worldwide to find a vaccine for…

Read More

  Jakarta (ANTARA) – Secretary General of the Communication and Informatics Ministry (Kemenkominfo) Rosarita Niken Widiastuti invited the public to partake in celebrations to mark the 75th Anniversary of Indonesia, albeit by continuing to adhere to the health protocols. “We invite all Indonesians to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia by continuing to comply with health protocols,” Widiastuti stated during a virtual press conference from the Indonesian Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Thursday. The secretary general also invited the public to put up the official 75th Anniversary logo…

Read More

  Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi (ANTARA) – Ten traditional fishermen were rescued after their longboat caught fire while they were diving for fish on Wednesday evening in Kapota waters, Wakatobi district, Southeast Sulawesi province. The accident occurred about 14 nautical miles from the Wakatobi post of the Search and Rescue (SAR) Agency, Aris Sofingi, head of the Kendari office of the SAR, told local journalists in Kendari, the provincial capital, on Thursday. He did not provide any information regarding the cause of the fire. Rescuers from SAR were dispatched along with…

Read More

  Bandung, W Java (ANTARA) – Public adherence to the health protocols laid down by the government is still less than 50 per cent, Doni Monardo, head of the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling said, citing the results of a survey. “Some 95 percent of respondents understand the importance of (following) health protocols, such as wearing of masks, but the level of compliance is still below 50 percent. This is according to a survey conducted by several institutions,” Monardo said here on Thursday. Monardo, who is also heading the National…

Read More

  Jakarta (ANTARA) – The COVID-19 Handling Task Force conducts countrywide risk mapping of the disease that has served as an official reference for the government to design COVID-19 response policies, according to its spokesman, Wiku Adisasmito. Risk mapping is conducted by using 15 indicators pertaining to epidemiology, surveillance, and public health services. Adisasmito made the statement during a virtual press conference from the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday in response to the polemic over Surabaya’s claim to have improved its status to a COVID-19 green zone. The spokesman…

Read More