Covid-19 Task Force on Extended Emergency PPKM: For the Sake of Public Safety

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Covid-19 Handling Task Force said the government opened up possibilities to extend the emergency state of public mobility restrictions or Emergency PPKM policy. The plan will be executed if the Covid-19 trend is not yet under control.

“It is not impossible to extend the policy or implement other policies for the safety and health of the public,” said the task force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito in an online press conference on Tuesday, July 13.

Wiku said the number of daily cases continued to increase until the eleventh day of the policy implementation. The highest single-day hike during the pandemic was recorded on Tuesday, July 13, with 47,899 cases.

The number of active cases, however, tended to slow down because the surge in new infections was in line with the high increase in the recovery rate, Wiku informed. Besides, the government increased testing and accelerated vaccination programs.

The plan to extend the Java-Bali Emergency PPKM was previously disclosed by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. She said the Covid-19 restriction policy would be extended for up to six weeks to suppress the number of Covid-19 cases.

“[Extending] the Emergency PPKM for 4-6 weeks is carried out to curb the Covid-19 spread. People's mobility is expected to drop significantly,” said Sri Mulyani during a joint working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Budget Committee on Monday, July 12.

Read also: Tangerang Issues Qurban Slaughtering Rules amid Emergency PPKM

DEWI NURITA