TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi estimated that Indonesia's third peak of COVID-19 transmission would occur in the second or third week of July 2022. Thus, a number of restrictions began to be enforced again.

“We will evaluate the PPKM policy (the enforcement of public mobility restrictions),” he said in a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday, July 4, 2022.

The evaluation was conducted given the high number of new infections that reached 1,614 on July 3 while the booster or third-dose vaccination rate was only 24.5 percent.

Jokowi then asked the National Police Chief, the Military Commander, the Health Ministry, and the Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to increase the booster vaccination rate, especially in regions with high public mobility.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the spike in positive cases in other countries was attributable to a lack of public vigilance towards health protocols, the government’s hasty decisions in relaxing health protocols, and the low vaccination rate.

He mentioned that according to the analysis with epidemiologists, the peak of cases in other countries occurred 30 to 40 days after the case was discovered. In Indonesia, it has been more than 30 days.

“So maybe there is still one or two weeks ahead [for the peak to happen]. If we compare it to other countries, the peak should have occurred,” Budi added.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto also announced that the government agreed to extend the PPKM policy from July 5 to August 1 and set COVID-19 booster vaccination as a requirement for public activity and traveling.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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