TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, suggested Jakarta provincial administration not extend the transition period from the large-scale social restriction or PSBB to a new normal era.

“[The government] should enforce tighter PSBB than the previous, instead of extending the transitional PSBB period if they want to control coronavirus transmission,” said Tri in a phone call with Tempo on Thursday, July 16.

Tri assessed that Governor Anies Baswedan took a wrong move by relaxing social restrictions when the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet under control. He lamented that Anies allowed movie theaters to reopen during the extended transitional PSBB.

Movie theaters, he opined, are among places with a high risk of virus spread. One of the factors causing the COVID-19 cases rising again in South Korea was the reopening of cinemas. “South Korea nearly reports zero cases, but as cinemas are opened, the trend increases again.”

To contain virus transmission, Tri added, the government must enforce tighter social restrictions than that of in the first phase until August or September.

The government, the epidemiologist went on, must temporarily shut down social and economic activities again and even ban people from leaving their homes without clear reasons. Each person must present a permit letter, except those who wish to go shopping or to a pharmacy, Tri Yunis said.

Read also: Epidemiologist: Stop Transitional PSBB if COVID-19 Cases Surge

IMAM HAMDI