Keep Watchful Eye on Prevalent COVID-19

The government has extended micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM) and banned takbiran (group chanting of God is great) to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

TANGKAPAN LAYAR AKUN RESMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN DI KANAL YOUTUBE

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas announced several restrictions ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2021, after a limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (19/4/2021). Press statements were also delivered by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (left) and Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin (right).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government has reimposed micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM) for the sixth time, from Tuesday (20/4/2021) until May 3 (3/5), in order to maintain public alertness because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After banning mudik (exodus) for the period of May 6-17, the government called a halt to round-the-town takbiran (chanting of God is great) on the eve of Idul Fitri to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.

This policy was adopted at a limited meeting chaired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin on Monday afternoon (19/4) at the State Palace, Central Jakarta. Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said following the meeting that mudik and takbiran were prohibited to prevent new COVID-19 infections.

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“Mudik is at most sunah [commendable] based on Islamic law, while maintaining individual, family and environmental health is obligatory. We should not ignore an obligation only to seek what is commended,” he said in an online press statement.

Mudik is at most sunah [commendable] based on Islamic law, while maintaining individual, family and environmental health is obligatory.

Sunah religious duties in the month of Ramadan like tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers) and iktikaf (religious retreat) can be performed in a mosque or mushola (prayer room) in green and yellow zones with a 50 percent room capacity.

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“For red and orange zones, there is no exception,” Yaqut said.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin explained that the policy was made by as a form of caution. The pandemic continues despite a decrease in new confirmed cases.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

The bus crew arranges the luggage of the AKAP bus at the Pulo Gebang Integrated Terminal, East Jakarta, Monday (19/4/2021). The government has decided to prohibit people from exodus (mudik) from 6-17 May 2021. This policy was taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the country. However, the ban on mudik makes some people choose to return to their hometowns earlier before they are prohibited.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto revealed that after the fifth PPKM on April 6-19, the average positivity rate was 6.6 percent. The positivity rate has decreased to 11.2 percent at present from Feb. 9 (29.42 percent).

“The sixth PPKM phase will be in force from April 20 to May 3,” said Airlangga, who is also chairman of the Committee on COVID-19 Control and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN).

Regional warnings

Regional administrations have also issued warnings of caution against COVID-19 to residents. The Riau Islands provincial government appealed to residents to reduce interisland mobility during Ramadan. Apart from the strong winds that endanger sea travel, the call was made because the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province had risen sharply in the last two weeks, according to Riau Islands regional secretary TS Arif Fadillah.

During the mudik ban, passengers of ships traveling between Batam and Bintan Islands are to be subjected to COVID-19 tests with GeNose C19.

“Before May 6, this device should be operating at the ports of Sri Bintan Pura [Tanjung Pinang] and Telaga Punggur [Batam],” he said.

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The South Sumatra provincial government will also block several entry and exit points on May 6-17 to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The head of the South Sumatra Transportation Office, Ari Narsa, said in the provincial capital Palembang that only vehicles carrying basic necessities, fuel or passengers with urgent needs like official duties or medical treatment would be allowed to enter the province.

The ban will apply not only to private vehicles but also public transportation.

“They are only allowed to operate before or after May 6-17,” Ari said.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Passengers board the AKAP bus at the Pulo Gebang Integrated Terminal, East Jakarta, Monday (19/4/2021). The government has decided to prohibit people from Idul Fitri exodus (mudik) from 6-17 May 2021.

In a press release, Kebumen Regent Arif Sugiyanto in Central Java asked members of the public returning home to Kebumen to isolate themselves for four days. Village heads were asked to call on local communities to cancel their mudik plans.

In Central Kalimantan, people intending to enter the province are required to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The executive general manager of PT Angkasa Pura II, Tjilik Riwut Airport, Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Siswanto, said restrictions on air travel were imposed according to the provincial government’s policy. According to him, the policy has effectively reduced mobility at Tjilik Riwut Airport. Palangkaraya.

Lukas Sutanto, 22, a passenger of Garuda Indonesia from Surabaya in East Java, claimed he had just learned about the rule and had no time to have a swab test. He also only had an antigen test certificate with a negative result.

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“I’ve arrived only to work rather than return home. As I only had an antigen certificate, I made a written statement to directly have a PCR test at the nearest hospital,” said Lukas.

Central Kalimantan Regional Secretary Fahrizal Fitri said the policy was meant to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission in the province. The provincial government not only demands swab tests in order to enter Central Kalimantan but also strict compliance with health protocols.

“This policy aims at cutting off the spread of COVID-19, which has the potential to increase as a result of the high mobility of travelers during Idul Fitri,” Fahrizal added.

(NDU/RAM/AIN/VIO/IDO/DKA/BRO/MEL/INA)

This article was translated by Aris Prawira