President Jokowi Extends PPKM to July 25

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi' Widodo has officially extended the social activity restriction implementation ("PPKM Darurat") until July 25, 2021. The restrictions will be relaxed on July 26, 2021 if the number of cases is starting to reduce.

Jokowi said that the mobility restriction policy is inevitable. Jokowi said that the government will choose to implement the policy although it is not an easy choice to make.

"This is done to lower the Covid-19 infection rate, and to reduce the public's need of treatment in hospitals," Jokowi said on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

Jokowi said that following the PPKM Darurat implementation, data reveals that there has been a reduction in the number of new cases and hospital bed occupancy rate. Jokowi added that if the number of cases can continue to decrease, there will be relaxation on July 26, 2021.

"If cases continue to reduce, on July 26 the government will conduct relaxation in stages," Jokowi said.

For example, traditional markets selling staple needs will be permitted to open until 8:00 PM with 50 percent limited capacity. In addition, restaurants and culinary outlets with open spaces can remain operational with 50 percent limited capacity under conditions if implementing strict health protocols. Customers will also be allowed to dine-in no longer than 30 minutes.

Previously, there are at least six indicators that were not achieved in the first PPKM Darurat. The six indicators were testing, racing, ,obility reduction, Covid-19 vaccination, positivity rate, and infection rate. In the filed of tracing, for example, the government targetted 324,000 testings per day in Java and Bali. In reality, the government can only accommodate 127,000 testings per day nationally.

As for vaccination target of 1 million vaccinations per day, only 546,000 vaccination per day can be achieved. The target to suppress infection rate to only 10,000 cases per day is also remains unachieved. Only yesterday, July 19, 2021, daily number of infection is as many as 34,257.

Concerning tracking, the target was 15 people for one positive infection cases or 300,000 contacts. In reality, only 250,000 contacts were tested. Positivity rate is expected to be lowered to 10 percent, but in reality the number remains at 25 persen. During the PPKM Darurat, the government also targeted to lower the people's mobility by 30 percent, but in reality it is only lowered by 20 percent.

DEWI NURITA