Gov’t Extends PPKM Outside Java, Bali Until 31 January 2022

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto delivers a virtual press statement after limited meeting on evaluation of public activity restrictions (PPKM), Sunday (01/16). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

The Government has announced it continues the implementation of public activity restrictions (PPKM) in regions outside the islands of Java and Bali to 31 January 2022, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

“The extension of PPKM will be implemented for the next 14 days from 18-31 January, which is based on the assessment level and vaccination progress. The regions with first dose coverage lower than 50 percent will have their PPKM assessment increased by one level,” the Minister said through video conference after attending a limited meeting on evaluation of public activity restrictions (PPKM), Sunday (01/16).

According to the Minister, the number of regencies/cities implementing PPKM level 1 have increased from 227 to 238 regions, regencies/cities categorized at level 2 have dropped from 148 to 138 regions, regencies/cities categorized at level 3 have dropped from 11 to 10 regions, and no more regencies/cities are at PPKM Level 4.

Based on data as of 15 January, national active cases stood at 8,463 cases with a total of 194 cases or 23 percent from regions outside Java-Bali islands.

Daily cases outside Java-Bali reached 69 cases with 66 local transmission cases and three imported cases, while daily mortality cases reached two cases.

“The reproduction rate in several areas outside Java-Bali has increased, including Sumatra Island which increased by 1, Maluku Islands increased by 0.92, and Kalimantan increased by 0.98. While the reproduction rate in Papua, Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi have dropped,” he said.

In his press statement, Airlangga also pointed out that the Government will encourage domestic vaccine production.

“As directed by the President, we also prepare the vaccines for use in the middle of this year or in the second semester, be it the  Merah Putih vaccine or those that are produced domestically,” he said.

Regarding the 2022 Indonesian MotoGP, Airlangga revealed that the Head of State approved the proposal to increase the number of spectators.

“There was a request to increase the number of spectators from 63 thousand to 100 thousand. In regard to this, the President has given his approval to be further implemented in Mandalika,” Airlangga said.

On that occasion, Airlangga also unveiled that the Government continues to speed up vaccination progress in Lombok Island, adding that vaccination coverage in the island is currently improving.

“For instance, vaccination in Central Lombok has reached 84 percent, for the elderly has reached 74 percent, and booster vaccination is targeted at 76,718. Meanwhile in Mataram city, the progress of the first dose vaccination has reached more than 100 percent since people outside the region were also vaccinated there, and vaccination for the elderly has reached 61 percent with 158 booster vaccination will be added,” he remarked. (DND/UN) (RIF/LW)