Micro-Scale PPKM Deemed Less Effective

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Traffic congestion in the Pancoran area, South Jakarta, Tuesday (9/2/2021). The Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta has begun to impose restrictions on micro-scale community activities (PPKM) on February 9-22 2021. However, changing policies to control the Covid-19 pandemic and the relaxation of several provisions have confused residents.

Micro-scale restrictions imposed on public activities (PPKM) have been deemed ineffective in suppressing the spread of COVID-19. This is due to, among other factors, the fact that the micro-scale PPKM restrictions are too lax to discourage mobility.

Despite criticism of the new mobility restriction policy as insufficiently effective, a number of city/regency administrations have stated their readiness to enforce micro-PPKM. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is attempting to use the implementation of micro-PPKM, which starts Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, to improve its tracking and tracing of COVID-19 cases.

Sulfikar Amir, an Indonesian disaster sociologist who teaches at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Tuesday (9/2), explained that the micro-lockdown concept has every urban village impose restrictions simultaneously. Residents will be allowed to carry on with their activities within their respective regions but will be restricted from leaving. “So, small businesses can continue to run,” he said.

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According to Sulfikar, a total lockdown, as done in Wuhan, China, has proven to effectively suppress transmissions. This option, however, has been rejected by the Indonesian government as it would be costly and would have major political implications. “I [then] proposed a micro-lockdown,” he said.

Kompas

A convoy of vehicles carrying the World Health Organization team enters the interior of the Huanan Seafood Market on the third day of field visit in Wuhan in central China\'s Hubei province on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. Scientists initially suspected the coronavirus came from wild animals sold in the market. The market has since been largely ruled out but for the visiting WHO team of international researchers it could still provide hints to how the virus spread so widely.

Based on his computational simulations, a micro-lockdown is slightly less effective than a total lockdown but much better than imposing social restrictions. However, micro-lockdowns have limitations, namely that they are only effective in dense urban areas where the transmission rate is not too high.

“Looking at the current infection rate in Java, I don’t think this option is relevant anymore,” he said. Sulfikar added that the initial aim of the micro-lockdown was to protect the lower class. They can survive and help others.

However, the micro-scale PPKM that is currently being imposed contradicts the concept he initially proposed. The PPKM allows large shops to remain open but limits economic activity in the smallest neighborhoods.

Looking at the current infection rate in Java, I don’t think this option is relevant anymore.

Indonesian epidemiologist at Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, said he deemed the restrictions of the micro-PPKM far more relaxed than the previous large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) and PPKM. What was needed, however, were tighter and simultaneous restrictions. Java has seen the highest level of community transmission, which means people are becoming infected everywhere. “It is impossible to limit mobility only on a micro-scale, while commercial and office activities are being relaxed,” he said.

Also read: With One Million Covid-19 Cases, Implementation of PPKM Needs to be Strengthened

According to Dicky, allowing offices to remain open for 50 percent their workers, compared to the previous 25 percent, and allowing malls and shopping centers to open until 21:00 will only increase mobility. Overcrowding on public transportation has returned. The risk of transmission in offices has increased once again.

Kompas/Priyombodo

Cilandak Subdistrict Civil Service Police officers conduct inspections of restaurants in shopping centers in the Cilandak area, South Jakarta, during lunch time, Monday (8/2/2021). Inspections to ensure the implementation of health protocols were carried out by business actors during the period of limiting community activities (PPKM) in Java-Bali to suppress the transmission of Covid-19.

Preparations underway

While waiting for circular letters from the Central Java governor and the Brebes regent regarding the micro-PPKM, several village administrations have already begun to prepare supporting facilities for COVID-19 handling.

In Kecipir village, Losari district, the local administration has prepared a COVID-19 task force post and an independent isolation area. In Pemalang, each village has limited its residents’ activities with different regulations, according to the spread of COVID-19 in the area.

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Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, in a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission IX in Jakarta, Tuesday, said that specimen examination had to be pursued no later than 72 hours after a positive test for COVID-19. The goal is to identify the transmission of cases quickly so that isolation can be carried out swiftly. Thus, the rate of transmission can also be reduced.

The government aims to engage 80,000 people in tracking efforts, which would be in accordance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of having 30 tracers for every 100,000 people.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.