TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has officially announced that the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM Darurat or Emergency PPKM) will begin on Saturday, July 3, until Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

This stricter Covid-19 restriction is the government's new measure in tackling the exponential increase in virus cases in the country in the past month.

“After receiving input from ministers, health experts, and regional heads, I decided to implement Emergency PPKM from July 3 to July 20 specifically for Java and Bali,” the President said in a press conference today, July 1, at the State Palace, Central Jakarta.

He said that in the last few days, Covid-19 cases in Indonesia were growing very fast because of new variants, which were also a serious problem in various countries.

“This Emergency PPKM will include restrictions on community activities that are more stringent than those that have been in effect so far,” he underlined.

The public was also asked to be disciplined in obeying these regulations for the common safety. The government will mobilize existing resources to contain the virus spread.

“All state apparatus, the military (TNI) and the national police (Polri), as well as state civil apparatus, doctors, and health workers, must work hand in hand to deal with this pandemic,” Jokowi said.

Read: Minister Airlangga: PPKM Mikro Darurat Effective July 3-10

EGI ADYATAMA