Govt May Impose Tougher Covid-19 Restriction in 'Emergency PPKM'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government reportedly planned to impose an emergency public activity restriction (PPKM Darurat) to counter the surge of Covid-19 cases across the country. This plan was being discussed in a limited meeting on Tuesday, June 29, led by the President himself. 

According to information Tempo obtained from a source within the State Palace, the emergency policy will be implemented in coronavirus red zones, such as in Jakarta, for two weeks. It will effectively see restaurants and malls closed while offices will be instructed to uphold 100 percent remote working or ‘work from home.’ 

Moreover, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investments, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said that he intended to take over the Covid mitigation in the islands of Java and Bali. Meanwhile, Airlangga Hartarto, coordinating minister for economy who is also the head of the Covid-19 handling committee and national economic recovery (KPC-PEN), will supervise the mitigation in the rest of Indonesian province.

Support for imposing a stronger restriction also came from the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar or ‘cak imin’. He agreed that it should be implemented sooner rather than later, considering the current Covid-19 situation in Indonesia. 

“I also heard about the PPKM Darurat plan, which I think should be implemented as Covid-19 cases continue to rise,” said the House deputy speaker. 

Read: Epidemiologist Slams at 'Vague' PPKM Covid-19 Restriction

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