TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo officially dismissed the enforcement of public mobility restrictions or PPKM which was aimed at curbing COVID-19 transmission on Friday, December 30, 2022.

The decision to end PPKM was made earlier than the initial plan. The government previously said that the results of the study, which will serve as consideration to end PPKM, would only be completed in the third week of January 2023.

"Today the government has decided to revoke the PPKM policy," the President announced in a press conference at the State Palace, Jakarta on Friday, December 30, 2022. "There are no more restrictions on crowds and community activities."

Jokowi explained that this policy was taken because all indicators related to COVID-19 were below WHO standards. In addition, all regencies and cities were already under PPKM level 1. Studies and considerations for taking the decision had been conducted for the past 10 months.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, who also attended the press conference, stated that he had submitted a report to President Jokowi that Indonesia is ready to end PPKM.

The pandemic status in Indonesia, Airlangga added, has actually changed into endemic. However, the Health Ministry needs to first launch a sero-survey to declare the endemic status.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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