Greater Jakarta Virus Restrictions Lowered to Level 3, but Area Stays on Alert

Kompas/AGUS SUSANTO

Health worker wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in the Covid-19 rapid test at a community health center (Puskesmas) Duren Sawit Sub-district, East Jakarta, Tuesday (28/4/2020). Large-scale social restrictions or PSBB in DKI Jakarta are considered to have a positive impact.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government has decided to extend multi-tiered public activity restrictions (PPKM) from Aug. 24 to Aug. 30 but to lower the COVID-19 alert level for a number of regions, including Greater Jakarta, from level 4 to level 3. The easing of the restrictions in some areas should be followed by the implementation of strict health procedures to prevent the resurgence of new COVID-19 cases.

In his announcement of the extension of PPKM on Monday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was not yet over as several countries were experiencing a third wave of cases. "Therefore, we must stay on alert, and the government will continue to implement the right policies to control the pandemic," the President said.

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> Restrictions on Public Activities Tightened

> Restrictions of Community Activities

> Restrictions Not Enough

According to data provided by the national COVID-19 task force, on Aug. 23, the number of daily new cases was 9,604, a significant decline from the peak of 56,757 cases recorded on July 15.

“The recovery rate is consistently higher than the addition of new confirmed cases over the past few weeks. This contributes significantly to the decline in the national bed occupancy rate, which currently stands at 33 percent," said the President.

The President said the alert level for a number of areas in Java and Bali, such as Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung and Greater Surabaya, had been lowered from level 4 to level 3 starting on Aug. 24. The change has reduced the number of regions under level 4 PPKM from 67 regencies or cities to 51.

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Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto

Meanwhile, new cases in a number of areas outside Java and Bali have also been declining. The number of such regions under level 4 PPKM has dropped from 11 provinces and 132 regencies or cities to seven provinces and 104 regencies or cities.

With improvements in several indicators, the President said, the government would consider a gradual further easing of restrictions, such as on assembly in places of worship, restaurants and shopping centers and work in export-oriented industries and the industries that supported them. However, he said, the easing of restrictions should be accompanied by the implementation of strict health protocols.

PPKM arrangements in Java will be reviewed weekly, and outside Java, they will be reviewed every two weeks.

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said PPKM would be maintained during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic but with adjustments to alert status according to regional conditions. PPKM arrangements in Java will be reviewed weekly, and outside Java, they will be reviewed every two weeks.

Living with COVID-19

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the President had asked him to develop a strategy on how to live with COVID-19. "In the future, we will not only talk about strategies for handling or overcoming the pandemic but about strategies for living with a [COVID-19] epidemic, and this will be carried out through the implementation of health protocols, testing, tracing and treatment," he said.

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Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

This step, said Budi, was expected to balance health and economic factors for the benefit of the people. Therefore, the implementation of strict health protocols was very important, he added.

Public policy observer Agus Pambagio said all parties had to stay alert to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 cases as alert levels declined. (CAS/HEN/TAN/LKT)

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).