As the transmission of Covid-19 has become increasingly uncontainable, the government has decided to tighten restrictions on public activities, especially in the red zones.
By
KOMPAS TEAM
·4 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia exceeds two million people with the daily cases on Monday (21/6/2021) reaching a record high 14,536 since the beginning of the pandemic.
The government is going to implement tightened micro-scale public activity restrictions or PPKM in the next two weeks, from June 22 to July 5.
Monday\'s record daily cases occurred as the positive rate based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests was reported at 41.1 percent. The figure was higher than the average positive rate on weekly basis, which is 37.39 percent. The spike in cases has caused health facilities in a number of areas to be unable to accommodate patients.
After a virtual limited meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo, in Jakarta on Monday, Coordinating Economic Minister, who also heads the National Economic Recovery and COVID-19 task force, Airlangga Hartarto said several provisions in the PPKM enforcement would be regulated in the Home Minister’s instructions.
The instructions need to be followed up with regional regulations, for which, according to him, governors in provinces that have experienced an increase in Covid-19 cases have met and received guidance regarding the scope of the PPKM.
Offices and other workplaces must implement a work from home mechanism of 75 percent for red zones and 50 percent for non-red zones.
"Strict health protocols and shifting work arrangements are implemented in the hope that no one travels to other areas," said Airlangga.
Teaching and learning activities in the red zones will fall back online. Worship activities, according to a circular letter from the Religion Minister, will also be suspended until the situation is safe.
"Idul Adha activities will be regulated in a circular to be issued later, including the slaughter of sacrificial animals and the (meat) distribution," he said.
Essential sectors dealing with basic public utility services, national vital projects, and basic public needs, such as groceries and pharmacies, are allowed to operate as usual with strict health protocols.
Operational hours in shopping centers, malls and markets are limited up to 8 pm with a maximum of 25 percent of capacity.
The government will prohibit activities in public places, such as tourist attractions, thanksgiving gatherings, and seminars, in the red zones.
Those activities are allowed in other than red zones with a maximum 25 percent of capacity. The same percentage of attendance also applies for indoor society gatherings but eat-in is not allowed.
Regional quarantine
According to the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), Indonesia needs to implement 14-day regional quarantine measures with close supervision and, at the same time, reach out to the residents extensively for health protocols education.
"Eat-in restaurants and places of entertainment must first be closed," IDI Covid-19 task force chairman Zubairi Djoerban said.
Hospitals are required to increase beds for Covid-19 patients, health workers, personal protective equipment, oxygen supply, and stock of medicines, especially remdesivir injections.
Mobility restrictions must be supported with increased virus checks up to 100,000 PCR tests per day and improved contact tracing. The current nationwide PCR tests are about 30,000 per day.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin warned about rife Covid-19 family clusters. A joint task force team comprising military and police members must go down to the neighborhood (RT) where Covid-19 infections are found in more than five households. Patients with symptoms, comorbid, and oxygen saturation below 95 percent are prioritized for hospitalization.
House of Representatives’ speaker Puan Maharani has urged the government to press emergency button of Covid-19 vigilance, now that hospital beds for Covid-19 patients have been filled over 70 percent of capacity in 87 regencies and municipalities in 29 provinces.
In fact, the number of Covid-19 patients at the Bendan Regional General Hospital in Pekalongan, Central Java, has exceeded capacity in the last four days. The hospital temporarily closed the service starting Monday (21/6) because it is no longer able to take in more Covid-19 patients.
Meanwhile, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengku Buwono X has called off the implementation of regional quarantine because of shortage in the funds needed to compensate people’s livelihood expenses during the quarantine period.
On the other hand, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said that the province was ready to implement a large-scale social restrictions, but would not meet the logistics needs of the residents due to limited budget funds. (WKM/AIK/(HRS/TAM/XTI/NIK/ETA/BRO/DIA/IKI/DIT/DKA/HLN/GIO)