Emergency PPKM Imposed for Overall Public Safety, Says Official

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The policy of emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM) enforcement, or simply called Emergency PPKM, was issued in order to ensure safety of the public at large, according to the president’s special staff on communication, Fadjroel Rachman.

“Emergency PPKM is the brake lever to save Indonesian citizens from the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joko Widodo took the decision to issue the emergency PPKM policy based on the recommendations of experts and regional administrations as well as in tune with the public aspirations,” Rachman wrote in a press release received on Saturday.

Such policy was legally based on the Home Affairs Ministry’s Instruction No. 5 of 2021 on emergency PPKM enforcement due to the coronavirus disease 2019 in the regions of Java and Bali, the spokesperson noted.

The emergency PPKM enforcement period started on Saturday, July 3, 2021, and is applicable until Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Java and Bali islands in accordance with the World Health Organization’s reference assessment criteria on transmission rate indicators and response capacity.

“The WHO has been divided into four levels, based on the confirmed cases, hospital treatment, death rate, and 3T (testing, tracing, and treatment). Currently, as many as 74 districts or towns in Java Island and Bali were placed on level 3 and 48 districts/towns on level 4,” Rachman noted.

The emergency PPKM policy was part of the implementation of health protocols. Apart from the health protocols, a critical effort in handling the COVID-19 pandemic is to expedite the vaccination program, he pointed out.

Rachman emphasized President Joko Widodo’s unwavering efforts in pushing the prioritized or red-zoned districts or towns to meet the vaccination target at 70 percent of the total population no later than August 2021.

“The government will utilize all existing resources to curb the spread of COVID-19. All state apparatuses, TNI (Indonesian army), Polri (National Police), state civil apparatus, doctors, and health workers have to work hand in hand to optimally handle this outbreak,” he highlighted.

The Health Ministry is also striving to ramp up the capacity of hospitals, centered-isolation facilities, medicine supplies, health equipment, and oxygen tanks, he stated.

“Indonesian people have proved to care about one another and keep up the togetherness in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, President Joko Widodo believed that they are able to stay disciplined in following health protocols during and after the emergency PPKM enforcement,” he explained.

Rachman stressed that the head of state had requested the people to stay calm and vigilant, abide by the rules, stay disciplined in observing health protocols, and support the COVID-19 handling efforts of the government and volunteers.

“The Indonesian nation can always emerge out of the crisis on account of the togetherness for protecting one another as well as through sound cooperation between the public and government. It is time for us to protect each other and love our fellow Indonesians and human beings,” he affirmed.

Read also: Indonesia on Emergency PPKM; Pharmacies Required to Open 24/7

ANTARA