Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - The government of Bali's Denpasar City on Friday began distributing social aid, comprising basic food staples such as rice, sugar, oil, and milk, to families affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The beneficiaries included vulnerable families, senior citizens, the disabled, people under monitoring (ODP), families of patients under surveillance (PDP), day workers, as well as laid-off workers.
Denpasar Mayor Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra symbolically handed over social aid to senior citizens on Friday in Denpasar. The relief included basic food items, such as 5-kilogram packs of rice, instant noodles, milk, cans of sardines, masks, sugar, cooking oil, and soap.
Rai Mantra said the community needs to increase self-awareness, as the pattern of COVID-19 spread cannot be predicted and it is not sure when the pandemic will end.
"We hope for the public to always be vigilant and follow the government's appeals in a disciplined manner. That way, we can accelerate the stemming of the virus' spread," the Mayor said. He was accompanied by head of the Denpasar City COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Dewa Gede Rai.
He also appealed to COVID-19 task forces at the village and sub-district levels as well as the Gotong-Royong Task Force for Cultural Villages in Denpasar to be more selective in monitoring the mobility of the area’s inhabitants.
"Let's increase our vigilance, follow the government's advice. Unless it is an urgent matter, it is better to be at home, familiarize oneself with healthy behavior, and wash hands with soap in running water," he advised.
Meanwhile, head of the Denpasar Social Office, I Made Mertajaya, said the relief, valued at Rp250 thousand, would be delivered to 12,100 people affected by the current outbreak, including ODPs, PDPs, and those who have been confirmed COVID-19 positive.
Besides basic food items, families of people under monitoring (ODPs) were also provided masks and soap to protect themselves and prevent early transmission.
Meanwhile, laid-off workers were given cash assistance of Rp600 thousand. Denpasar City's Civil Apparatuses Corps also handed out packs of 5-kg rice grains to 575 parking officers.
