Gov’t Extends PPKM in Java, Bali Islands, Coordinating Minister Says
Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat)
The Government has announced that it extends public activity restrictions (PPKM) in Java and Bali islands for two weeks until 29 November 2021.
A total of 41 regencies/cities will impose PPKM Level 3, while 61 regencies/cities will implement PPKM Level 2, and 26 regencies/cities will impose PPKM Level 1, according to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in his press statement, Monday (15/11).
The details of this policy, Luhut added, will be regulated in the Instruction of Minister of Home Affairs.
Although the number of regencies/cities that impose PPKM Levels 1 and 2 continue to increase, the Coordinating Minister urged the public to be cautious given that there are indications of an increase in effective reproduction rates (Rt) that indicate an increase in cases in Java and Bali islands in the past week. Around 29 percent of regencies/cities experience an increase in cases compared to last week and 34 percent of regencies/cities experience an increase in hospitalized patients compared to last week.
Luhut further said that all of us must be cautious [of the increase in cases] ahead of New Year and Christmas holidays. At the moment, Google Mobility indicator shows increasing people’s mobility in Java and Bali islands compared to New Year and Christmas period last year.
The public was also urged to be cautious given that first dose vaccination rate for the elderly in 47 percent of regencies/cities in Java and Bali islands is still under 50 percent and second dose vaccination rate for the elderly in 75 percent of regencies/cities is still under 50 percent as well.
Furthermore, the Government assess that public awareness in observing health protocols is declining. Thus, ahead of New Year and Christmas holidays the Government will carry out coordination with its ranks to intensify the use of PeduliLindungi application, strengthen the implementation of health protocols in public places, and boost vaccination drive especially for the elderly in regencies/cities with vaccination rate under 50 percent.
In addition, that the Government will continue to carry out testing and tracing supported by the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI)/ National Police (Polri), be active to detect new confirmed cases, treat patients tested positive for COVID-19 at centralized isolation facilities in order to prevent transmission at family level, and also ban New Year celebrations that cause large crowds.
According to the Coordinating Minister, the Government has already prepared various scenarios to anticipate the potential spike in cases during New Year and Christmas holidays as well as the impacts in health and economic sectors. Luhut remarked that the success in curbing the increase in COVID-19 cases during this year’s New Year and Christmas holidays will determine the sustainability of Indonesia’s economic recovery in the future. (PR of Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment/UN) (AP/MMB)
