Yogyakarta Insists on Banning Concert Despite High COVID-19 Vaccination Rate

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The Yogyakarta Government announced that the COVID-19 vaccination rate in the region as of September 28 had exceeded 80 percent of the total target of 2.8 million population.

“As of today, 2,321,200 residents have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or 80.61 percent of the target,” said the province's spokesman Ditya Nanaryo Aji Tuesday, September 28.

The vaccination rate for the second dose, meanwhile, has not reached 50 percent. “1,291,128 people have got the second dose or 44.86 percent of the target,” Ditya added.

Despite the high vaccination rate, daily case number was at below 100, and death toll at below five cases per day, the provincial government still barred public entertainment or social activities from being held such as music concerts and wedding receptions.

Yogyakarta Secretary Kadarmanta Baskara Aji said that during the level 3 public mobility restrictions or PPKM Level 3, the region remained in an alert status. “Because those activities can be a source of a new cluster of COVID-19,” Aji underlined.

Aji admitted that since PPKM Level 3 was in place, regency/city administrations have begun to accept requests for permits to hold mass music concerts because the central government gave the authority to the local government.

“But until now, Yogyakarta has not yet issued such permit,” he said, citing an example that one of the big events, Prambanan Jazz Festival, changed its concept to a virtual event.

Read: Bromo to Hold Jazz Gunung Concert Tomorrow; Using PeduliLindungi a Mandatory

PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)