TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) Head of Commission overseeing administrative affairs Mujiyono, suggested Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to pull the emergency brake and tighten the lockdown policy known as Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB).

"The number of cases is already alarming again. The positivity rate is getting to hit 10 percent," said the Democrat politician on Tuesday, December 22, 2020.

Mujiyono argued that the emergency measure is needed because hospital facilities in the capital are almost fully occupied. The occupancy rate of isolation beds and intensive care unit (ICU) rooms had reached 85 percent and 80 percent, respectively.

"So [based on] the indicator, pulling the emergency brake could have been done," Mujiyono said.

Anies Baswedan must consider the safety of the city residents, Mujiyono added. The potential for virus transmission will be even higher following the year-end holidays.

"People will still go out of town. I suggest pulling the emergency brake before all indicators become more critical," Mujiyono said.

Mujiyono argued that the Jakarta administration cannot add more health facilities to serve Covid-19 patients because it will decrease medical services for patients with other diseases.

The most appropriate approach at this time is to regulate the people's mobility immediately, Mujiyono added. "The safety and health of citizens are of utmost importance. So we advise the government to tighten the PSBB," Mujiyono underlined.

IMAM HAMDI