PPKM Restriction Extended, Epidemiologist Laments Policy Relaxation
Translator
Dewi Elvia Muthiariny
Editor
Markus Wisnu Murti
Jumat, 22 Januari 2021 19:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, lamented the policy relaxation of the government’s public activity restriction in Java-Bali or PPKM, which is extended until Feb. 8, 2021.
He mentioned that shopping malls were allowed to open until 20:00 Western Indonesian Time (WIB) from initially until 19:00 WIB in the new social restriction policy.
“[The operating hours] should be shortened, instead of extended. What does the government want to do to tighten the health protocols in the community today?” said Tri to Tempo on Friday, Jan. 22.
He argued that the Jakarta administration must have the courage to "crash" the policy that prolonged the operating hours of the business sector given the alarming situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the capital city. The city’s health facilities, he added, was on the verge of collapse.
The city’s economy would recover once the health problems are contained, Tri opined. “I’m doing this for my people. They are better to be poor than die. That’s how it should be,” he said.
The COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN) chairman, Airlangga Hartarto, announced earlier that the Java-Bali PPKM would be prolonged for the next two weeks, from Jan. 26 to Feb. 8, 2021.
Read: Indonesia Extends COVID-19 Restrictions in Java-Bali until February
ADAM PRIREZA
