Considering PPKM Level 3

To prevent an explosion of Covid-19 transmissions during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the government will impose level 3 community activity restrictions (PPKM) nationwide. How do we respond to this?

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Passengers climb the flight of stairs at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday (11/23/2021). The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the performance of the Indonesian aviation industry over the past two years. However, the Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA) is optimistic that there will be a recovery in 2022.

PPKM, or the imposition of restrictions on community activities, is one of the efforts to minimize the spread of Covid-19. This policy of limiting community mobility is based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and serves as a guide for the community in carrying out their activities, be it teaching and learning in schools, office settings, restaurants and various other public spaces as well as local and domestic transportation.

Each level of the four-tiered policy, with level 4 being the strictest, is determined based on various Covid-19 indicators. These include the number of positive cases, the number of Covid-19 patients being treated in hospitals, hospital bed availability and the psychological condition of the community.

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These references have become the basis for experts to remind the government, as level 3 PPKM will be imposed nationwide from 24 December 2021 to 2 January 2022. It is known that although no area is free from Covid-19, the scale of emergency varies.

It is also understood that each PPKM level also ties into the economic cycle in each region and that it would be wise to review the plan to impose level 3 PPKM. Moreover, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo always reminds us that every decision made, especially regarding Covid-19, must be based on data and the opinions of experts.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

The Bali Regional State Intelligence Agency (Binda) held a mass vaccination and door-to-door vaccination in Denpasar City, Bali, Monday (22/11/2021). Mass vaccination was held in the yard of the LDII Multipurpose Building in Bali Region, West Denpasar, Denpasar City.

Data show that the rate of Covid-19 transmission is inversely proportional to the vaccination rate. The more people are fully inoculated, the lower the number of positive cases.

In Jakarta, for one, out of 10,428 people who were tested on 21 November 2021, only 26 tested positive. This means that the positivity rate is only 0.2 percent. Jakarta’s official vaccination data also show that as of 23 November 2021, 98.9 percent of adults have been fully inoculated as well as 86.1 percent of the elderly and 113.3 percent of adolescents.

Thus, the government needs to further accelerate the vaccine rollout in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year holidays, especially in tourist destinations and mudik (exodus) destinations.

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Of course, vaccinations need to be complemented by health protocols, strict monitoring and strict sanctions for violators. Local administrations can tighten regulations on tourist and culinary attractions, which usually become main destinations during the holidays. In addition to no crowds, people must also keep their distance and wear masks. These must all be practiced without exception.

We must not slacken the implementation of the 3Ts either: testing, tracing and treatment. Though the number of cases has begun to decline, the 3Ts help us observe trends and allow us to act quickly to contain transmissions.

We do need to maintain the current good conditions, but we also need to make wise decision in accordance to the conditions of each region.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.