Transitional PSBB Extended, PDIP: Drop in COVID-19 Cases Not Yet Significant

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) PDIP faction chairman Gembong Warsono assessed that the drop in COVID-19 cases in the capital city was not yet significant. He argued that the large-scale social restriction (PSBB) policy remained necessary to contain the pandemic.

“Based on data, there is already an improvement, a downward trend [of positive cases], but the drop is not significant yet. So PSBB is still needed to control COVID-19 spread,” said Gembong via text message to Tempo on Monday, November 9, 2020.

Gembong hoped people would keep complying with the predetermined health protocols. The city administration, he added, must not relax its supervision of both individuals and institutions.

All business sectors could reopen during this transitional period because the virus transmission had been slowed down, the PDIP politician said. Even the tourism industry sectors such as night entertainment venues could re-operate by adhering to capacity limits and strict health protocols.

“I think [night entertainment venues] can be reopened on several conditions and limited capacity with health protocols and government supervision,” he said.

Anies Baswedan again prolonged the transitional PSBB for the next 14 days starting from November 9-22, 2020. This policy was set in a gubernatorial decree No. 1100/2020 inked by Anies on November 6, 2020.

Read: Anies Baswedan Announces 'Ideal' COVID-19 Isolation, ICU Occupancy Rate

IMAM HAMDI