Stricter Public Restrictions to Be Imposed in Java, Bali

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.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said that the government would soon impose stricter public activity restrictions to curb the rising spread of COVID-19.

KENDARI, KOMPAS — The policy of imposing restrictions on public activities, known as emergency PPKM, will soon be imposed in Java and Bali. The rate of COVID-19 transmission must be suppressed in order to restore business sectors and the economy as a whole. Business players asked the government to balance between strict restrictions and the provision of incentives.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo confirmed the imposing of emergency pubic activity restrictions in front of businessmen when opening the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Kadin) eighth national conference in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Wednesday (30/6/2021).

The National Conference was attended by Kadin chairman Rosan Roeslani, Kadin chairman candidate Arsjad Rasjid, Kadin Advisory Board candidate Anindya Bakrie, board members and Kadin members. Cabinet members were also present, such as Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi and Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

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The President said the emergency PPKM policy must be adopted for Java and Bali. The Office of the Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister will finalize a study and immediately decide on the stricter restrictions.

Stricter decisions are needed to stop the spread of COVID-19. "The emergency PPKM policy is inevitable," said the President.

The coverage area of these emergency restrictions is 45 regencies/cities with an assessment score of 4, and 76 regencies/cities with an assessment score of 3.

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo gave a statement regarding vaccinations for children aged 12-17 at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (28/6/2021).

In the last few weeks, the addition of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has soared. After the Lebaran holiday, plus the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (Delta), Indonesia\'s active cases as of Wednesday (30/6) were at more than 228,000 people. Based on data from the Health Ministry, the addition of COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (30/6) was 21,807 people, and 467 people died.

The occupancy rate of beds at hospitals and isolation centers has soared. After mid-May, it fell to 28 percent; now it\'s 72 percent. In fact, the occupancy rate of isolation and intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients in Sidoarjo, East Java, was 97.38 percent on Tuesday (29/6).

The number of deaths in Indonesia is the sixth highest, which is 2,733 people.

The weekly epidemiological report of the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that within a week, Indonesia would be in fifth place with the addition of the most new cases in the world, namely 138,352 people. The number of deaths in Indonesia is the sixth highest, which is 2,733 people.

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The President explained the economic consequences if COVID-19 is not controlled. When the rate of daily case additions rises, consumer confidence falls.

On the other hand, strict restrictions followed by a decrease in people’s mobility and case additions will raise the consumer confidence index and the retail sales index.

"The key to our economic affairs now is how to suppress COVID-19," said the President.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan when inspecting the Vaccination Center of Kompas Gramedia Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Palmerah, Central Jakarta, on Monday (28/6/2021).

In Jakarta, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 has more than doubled every eight days.

"If strict measures are not taken immediately, 100,000 active cases in Jakarta will be reached by July 8-13," Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said at an emergency PPKM coordination meeting.

A number of local administrations are now waiting for instructions on the implementation of emergency PPKM measures from the central government. The governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, said he was ready to impose the policy, especially as the governor\'s instructions contain directives for tightening.

Stimulus for business world

Entrepreneurs responded to the emergency PPKM policy in various ways. Generally, business actors expect the new restrictions to be balanced with the provision of assistance to the business world.

The chairperson of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association, Hariyadi Sukamdani, said the business world needed to cover greater operational costs if there were to be strict restrictions. Stimuli and incentives are needed in the form of fiscal, monetary and macroprudential policies. Support can be in the form of reduced costs of electricity, water and salary subsidies for employees.

WAK

he chairperson of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association, Hariyadi Sukamdani.

According to an epidemiologist from the School of Public Health at the University of Indonesia (UI), Iwan Ariawan, with the current rate of transmission, the only option is strict mobility restrictions.

“[All offices in] Java should apply a 100 percent work-from-home policy. Shopping malls should be closed and schools shift to online learning," he said.

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> Hospitals Overwhelmed, Deaths Rise

> Health Services Enhanced

Data on bed availability at the Health Ministry\'s Hospital Inpatient Information System (Sinarap) app does not match the real conditions. According to the head of the health insurance division of the All-Indonesian Hospital Unit, Daniel Budi Wibowo, this was because data collection was still manual and human resources were limited. (INA/AGE/JAL/AN/VAN/ GIO/NEL/NIK/DIT/JAL/ AGE/NCA/TAM/AIK/ TAN/SON)

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko).