Gov’t Extends Activity Restrictions in Java, Bali to 16 August
The Government has announced its decision to extend the activity restrictions (PPKM) policy in the islands of Java and Bali to 16 August 2021.
“In accordance with the President’s directives, the PPKM levels 4, 3, and 2 in the islands of Java and Bali will be extended until 16 August 2021. The detailed provisions will be stipulated in the Instruction of Minister of Home Affairs,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Monday (09/08/2021).
Instruction of Minister of Home Affairs Number 30 of 2021 issued on 9 August stipulates that 71 regencies/cities in the islands of Java and Bali will implement the level-4 PPKM, 55 regencies/cities will implement level-3 PPKM, and 2 regencies/cities will implement level-2 PPKM.
Luhut said that the Government will make some adjustments during the implementation of the PPKM.
“The trial of opening shopping centers/malls will be carried out in the cities of Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Semarang with a capacity of 25 percent over the next week, with strict health protocols. Only those who have been vaccinated can enter the mall and they must use the PeduliLindungi application,” Luhut explained.
Another rule in the trial is that people under 12 years old and over 70 years old are prohibited from entering malls/shopping centers.
“For export-based essential industries, this week all health protocols have been prepared so that starting next week they can operate in level-4 PPKM areas with 100 percent of staffers divided into at least two shifts,” Luhut said.
The adjustments were also made regarding activities at places of worship. From 10 August, places of worship in districts/cities implementing level-4 PPKM can operate with a maximum capacity of 25 percent or a maximum of 20 people.
On that occasion, Luhut said that the implementation of the previous PPKM on 2 August to 9 August in the islands of Java and Bali had brought relatively positive results. There are 26 regencies/cities that have changed their status from level 4 to level 3 due to a significant improvement.
In line with the decrease in COVID-19 cases, the bed occupancy rate in hospitals also decreased in several agglomeration areas in the islands of Java and Bali, except in Malang area and Bali.
“The Government will immediately provide intervention in these two areas to reduce the rate of additional cases,” Luhut said, adding that the mortality rate in Java and Bali is also decreasing despite the fluctuating number.
On that occasion, the Coordinating Minister reiterated the main pillars in efforts to control the pandemic, namely the acceleration in vaccination coverage, implementation of tracing, testing, and treatment measures, and implementation of health protocols (wearing face masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance).
Regarding the implementation of the health protocols, Luhut said that there is an improvement in public compliance in wearing face masks. The existing compliance rate stands at 82 percent, five percent higher compared to that of February-March period. (FID/UN) (RI/MUR)
