Restrictions Still Fail to Overcome

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Workers of the Office of Cleanliness and Green Open Space (DKRTH) paint the free-standing name letters of Bungkul Park in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday (22/1/21). Like museums, city parks in Surabaya are still closed to the public to curb the spread of Covid-19, but maintenance work continues.

Public activity restrictions (PPKM) imposed on the community on 11 Jan are still unable to overcome Covid-19 transmission due to the lack of public awareness about health protocols.

MALANG, KOMPAS — Local governments are preparing to extend public activity restrictions (PPKM) in accordance with central government regulations, because the new social restrictions imposed on 11 Jan. 2021 have so far been unable to reduce the spread of Covid-19. People’s compliance with health rules is the key to achieving the PPKM’s goal to reduce the number of daily new Covid-19 cases.

As of Friday afternoon (22/1/2021), the total nationwide tally increased to 965,283 cases, 781,147 of which have ended with a recover and 27,453 of which have ended deadly.

Also read: Vaccination and Threat of Virus Mutation

There were 13,632 new daily cases on Friday, up from 8,692 cases when the PPKM were imposed on Monday (11/1).

East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak told the people in Malang on Friday not to feel traumatic about the PPKM. He invited all parties to positively respond to the second PPKM, which would be imposed by the central government from Tuesday (26/1) to Monday (8/2) and consider it as a common effort to prevent the spread of the disease, so that the new cases would not increase further.

It is our common need. We hope that the new cases number will decline and Covid-19 will eventually disappear.

"[People] should not think that the PPKM will kill the local economy. We must continue to pursue Covid-19 enlightenment together. It is our common need. We hope that the new cases number will decline and Covid-19 will eventually disappear, "Emil said.

The East Java provincial administration has implemented the PPKM in Greater Surabaya as well as in Malang Raya, Madiun Raya, Mojokerto Raya, Kediri, Lamongan and Ngawi districts. The East Java administration, together with regency and city governments, would continue to cooperate with the businesspeople and the community so that the second PPKM would be more effective.

Malang is among the cities that were able to reduce mortality in the first PPKM. The death rate due to Covid-19 in Malang City fell from 9.8 percent to 9.1 percent during the first PPKM.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A public order officer is on guard to ensure people wear masks at Rawa Terate, Cakung, East Jakarta, on Thursday (21/1/2021). The operation was held in response to a lack of discipline among residents in adhering to health rules. The relatively low discipline of residents is complying with community restrictions has been identified as one reason for rising Covid-19 infection numbers.

Malang Mayor Sutiaji said that, besides actively monitoring activities of cafes to prevent crowds, the city government had also encouraged mosques to strictly follow the health protocols. "The mosques should not only [ensure people] keep a safe distance but also remind the congregation to wear masks and wash their hands," he said.

The spokesperson for the Covid-19 Task Force (Satgas) of the Blitar regency in East Java, Krisna Yekti, said the effectiveness of the first PPKM was only 60-70 percent due to low awareness of residents on the social restrictions.

The mayor of Bandung, Oded M Danial, said he would close some public facilities and roads to limit the movement of people at night.

The government of Bandung City, West Java, will be more assertive to ensure that the second PPKM will be more effective. The mayor of Bandung, Oded M Danial, said he would close some public facilities and roads to limit the movement of people at night.

Also read: Overcoming Vaccination Data Issues

The head of the transportation control and order division of the Bandung City Transportation Agency, Asep Kuswara, explained that as many as 23 road sections, including Ll. Braga, Asia Afrika, Merdeka, Otista, Ahmad Yani, Gatot Subroto, Mochammad Toha, and Buahbatu, would be closed.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Employees get out of their offices for a break in the Setiabudi office area of South Jakarta on Wednesday (20/1/2021). The Jakarta administration has limited office occupancy to 25 percent on the capacity in the essential sectors during the imposition of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) on Jan. 11-25, 2021.

"That means more than 50 percent of the routes in Bandung are closed at night. Last week, lane restrictions reduced the mobility of Bandung residents by 15 percent, "he said.

Regional governments in Central Java are also ready to implement the second PPKM. Key regions in Central Java, including Semarang Raya, Solo Raya, and Banyumas Raya as well as Pati, Kudus, and Magelang regencies, have been asked to implement the PPKM from 11-25 Jan. "We have received directions from the central government to extend the PPKM and are ready to follow through," the secretary of Brebes regency, Djoko Gunawan, said.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo earlier said that the biggest hope for the implementation of the PPKM was an improvement in public awareness about health rules in their daily activities.

"The point is that if we look at the first PPKM (11-25 January 2021), the results are not satisfying. Every regency/city has implemented it will, but it would be better if there were public awareness,” he said.

The governor of Lampung, Arinal Djunaidi, has instructed all rectors of public and private universities in Lampung to postpone field activities, such as compulsory community work (KKN) programs.

Local governments in regions outside Java and Bali have also begun to restrict community activities. The governor of Lampung, Arinal Djunaidi, has instructed all rectors of public and private universities in Lampung to postpone field activities, such as compulsory community work (KKN) programs. "Do not let any activities become Covid -1 9 transmission clusters," the deputy head of the Lampung Covid-19 Task Force, Fahrizal Darminto, said in Bandar Lampung.

Also read: Ensure the Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

The North Sumatra provincial government has also intensified raids at nightclubs to enforce health protocol, after the number of new daily cases doubled to 60 last week from the figure recorded in early December.

Potent

University of Indonesia epidemiologist Pandu Riono said the implementation of the PPKM would be effective only if all community activities, except in the essential sector, were totally halted. That means that all activities outside the essential sector should be carried out from home. If possible, activities of the essential sectors, including traditional markets, are reduced by implementing a rotational system and strict health protocols, such as those carried out during the initial phase of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) during from March to May 2020.

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Students take advantage of free wifi in a house on Jl. Kenjeran IV in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday (22/1/2021). The free wifi service is provided every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to reduce the financial burden of online study for local students. The activity, named Kampung Dolanan, has been initiated by the Karang Taruna youth organization.

"Last year, long holidays and cuti bersama (collective leave) contributed to the increase in new cases, because the holidays had resulted in the movement of millions of people. Through the PPKM, even if there are holidays, massive community movements should be prevented, "he said. (DIA/ETA/XTI/DIT/WER/RTG/VIO/NSA/DNE)

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).