TEMPO.CO, Malang - The social restriction on a large scale or PSBB in Greater Malang will be kicked off starting Sunday, May 17 until May 31, 2020. It covers Malang Regency, Malang City, and Batu City areas.

Malang Mayor Sutiaji said the order will be enforced more strictly than that of Greater Surabaya, hoping it will only need to be lasted in one phase or fourteen days and does not have to be extended.

“I believe Malang City will manage it because we have been able to suppress the growth trend in Covid-19 cases and maintain the number within a few days. This means, if we are eager and strive for it, we can make it,” said Sutiaji on Wednesday, May 13.

The Secretary of Malang City Wasto elaborated that the strict physical distancing order was as instructed by East Java Governor and referred to the Health Ministerial Regulation No. 9/2020 on PSBB guidelines as the Covid-19 containment measure and the Gubernatorial Decree No. 18/2020.

Sutiaji and Wasto claimed that with or without the social restrictions, Malang city administration had been implementing strict protocols to curb further spreading of the coronavirus infection through RW Tangguh or strong community unit program and applying social and physical restriction as ruled in two mayoral regulations.

“The core of PSBB is social and physical distancing. That is why its success key is community discipline. So we push for it starting from the smallest community, RW, that we call it RW Tangguh,” Sutiaji added.

ABDI PURMONO (CONTRIBUTOR)