Expert Lists Conditions Jakarta Should Stop Transitional PSBB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, suggested that Jakarta provincial government can stop the transitional PSBB or large-scale social restrictions if the transmission of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is getting out of control.

“An indication to take such an emergency brake is when the infection rate hits 10 percent," said Pandu to Tempo on Friday, July 17, 2020.

As previously reported, Governor Anies Baswedan decided to extend the transition period from social restrictions on a large scale to a new normal era for fourteen days beginning July 17 to July 30, 2020. The policy first commenced on June 5, 2020.

According to Pandu, the city administration can further prolong the transition period by limiting the number of visitors or workers to 50 percent of the total capacity of all reopened sectors as long as the positivity rate does not reach 10 percent within two weeks.

Throughout the last week, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Jakarta was recorded at 5.9 percent. The figure, the epidemiologist added, is still considered safe to extend the transition period.

He further argued that Jakarta can maintain the policy until 2021 should there be no changes in the infection rate up to 10 percent.

Pandu reiterated that the rising positivity rate shows a soaring risk of COVID-19 transmission. Besides, many new infections are found during the transitional PSBB due to the increasing number of tests conducted by the government.

Read: Jakarta Postpones Reopening of Movie Theaters

IMAM HAMDI