Java-Bali PPKM Ends Today, Will It Be Extended?

JAKARTA - The implementation of the Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) will end today, Monday, November 29 since it was extended on November 16. Meanwhile, PPKM outside Java-Bali will only end on December 6, 2021.

During the two weeks of implementing the Java-Bali PPKM, there were 26 Regencies/Cities with Level 1 status, then 61 Regencies/Cities at Level 2, and 41 Regencies/Cities with Level 3.

As of this morning, there has been no sign of whether the government will stop the Java-Bali PPKM completely, or extend its implementation again.

However, on Wednesday, November 17, the Government plans to implement a Level 3 Community Activity Restriction (PPKM) policy as a whole in Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year holidays. This is done to prevent an increase in COVID-19 cases.

"During the Christmas and New Year holidays, all of Indonesia will apply Level 3 PPKM regulations and provisions," said Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy in a written statement, Wednesday, November 17.

This decision was taken at the Coordinating Meeting at the Ministerial Level to Anticipate the Potential for an Increase in COVID-19 Cases during the Christmas and New Year Holidays which was held online.

Muhadjir said the policy was carried out to tighten the movement of people and prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases. Later, all regions in Indonesia that are in PPKM Level 1 and 2 must implement the Level 3 PPKM rules.

This policy is effective from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022. "So there is national uniformity. There has been an agreement, the rules that apply in Java-Bali and outside Java-Bali will later be uniformed," said Muhadjir.

In its implementation, Level 3 PPKM will refer to the latest Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs (Inmendagri). Meanwhile, other ministries and institutions were asked to prepare Circular and operational support to follow up.

"This Ministry of Home Affairs serves as a guideline for controlling the handling of Covid-19 during the Christmas and New Year holidays, which will be set no later than November 22, 2021," he explained.

Furthermore, Muhadjir also emphasized that the celebration of fireworks, parades, processions that gather large crowds will be completely prohibited. As for Christmas worship, tourist visits, shopping centers will adjust the Level 3 PPKM policy.

"This Christmas and New Year's policy is needed to inhibit and prevent the transmission of COVID-19, but the economy must continue to move. Tightening and monitoring of health protocols is also carried out in a number of destinations. Mainly in three places, namely in churches during Christmas celebrations, in shopping areas, and local tourist destinations," he explained.

The coordination meeting was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah, and Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

In addition, the Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, Head of Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwi Qorita, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (PDTT), Ministry of Empowerment of the State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ministry of National Armed Forces (TNI), and Police were also present.