Health: A slow but steady increase in nationwide cases continued, with total cases growing by 15 percent week‑on‑week and active cases growing by eight percent.  Testing expanded by 18 percent during the week, with the positivity rate at 11 percent.  The key drivers of national case growth continue to be East Java and a collection of assorted provinces outside Java.  Indonesia’s rate of transmission continues to be moderate – but various remediation efforts are not bringing down the pace of case growth.  Indonesia has avoided a breakpoint and steep rise to date, but the possibility will continue causing wariness until growth subsides.  Meanwhile, re‑imposing mobility restrictions in certain areas may prove necessary (Page 2).  For Jakarta, authorities announced a 14‑day extension to the ‘transition to a New Normal’ phase (p. 4).  Surabaya’s mayor succumbed to an outpouring of grief over the city’s rising caseload (p. 4).   

Politics: President Joko Widodo released a week‑old video in which he berated ministers for inadequate pandemic response measures – and he also pointedly raised the possibility of a reshuffle.  Full analysis of the scenarios (p. 5). 

Policy News: The president promoted efforts in Central Java to attract manufacturers relocating from China (p. 8).  Parliament re‑introduced a bill on protections for domestic household workers – but its approach seems equivocal (p. 8).  

Economics: The development planning minister endorsed debt monetization with near‑zero interest bonds.  While convenient in the near term, it portends longer-term risk (p. 9).

Environment: Long-overdue movement may be imminent on a key downstream reform (p. 11).

Justice: Investigators cited the complicity of a former stock market head who has long portrayed himself as an eminent professional in defrauding 17,000 customers of the state insurance company Jiwasaraya (p. 13).