Government Opens Possibility Of No PPKM, Epidemiologists Are Concerned

JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from Australia's Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, admitted that he was worried that the government would abolish the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM).

This was conveyed in response to the statement of the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy who said the abolition of the PPKM regulation was just waiting for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s decision.

"If this (PPKM rule, red) is revoked, I am afraid that during this transition period we will fail to prepare prerequisites, pre-conditions, or behavior change procedures that we must prepare for post-pandemic," said Dicky to VOI, Wednesday, May 23.

Dicky reminded that PPKM should not be revoked as long as the status of the COVID-19 pandemic still occurs. The reason is that this restriction is actually an inseparable rule and a benchmark for implementing a health protocol strategy; tracing, testing, and treatment (3T); and vaccinations.

In addition, this restriction actually also helps to prevent the spread of other viruses in the country. Dicky agrees, the condition of the country is now gradually improving.

But, he reminded, the plague will always exist after this COVID-19 pandemic. After all, the government cannot rely on vaccines 100 percent.

"So once again, vaccines, for example, later the coverage, including three doses that are approaching 100 percent, is not a magic button, not a pandemic on-off button. Vaccines are not the only solution to face a pandemic. There are many solutions that we have to do in parallel, including behavior change and improvement of the health system," explained Dicky.

"The world will not be the same as it was before the pandemic. No. Until we change things and this is talking decades into the future and not to mention the health status of humans, animals, and the improvement of ecosystems or the environment," he added.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said the abolition of PPKM in the country was just waiting for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s decision. It's just that, he said, the chances are very likely to happen.

Moreover, currently, COVID-19 cases do not increase after the 2022 Eid holiday. "Regarding PPKM, of course, with this declining condition, we are just waiting for orders from the President," Muhadjir said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Tuesday, May 25.

"God willing, (the order to eliminate, ed) will be carried out by the President," he added.

Muhadjir asked the public to be patient. All parties must wait further so that when the PPKM rules are revoked the atmosphere in the country will be more comfortable.

"We'll just have to wait and pray. Hopefully, the COVID-19 will continue to decline so that we really go to a much more comfortable, better atmosphere," he stressed.

For information, the government implements PPKM to prevent an increase in COVID-19 cases which continues to be extended for two weeks.

Most recently, the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian extended the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) in Java-Bali through Inmendagri Number 26 of 2022.

In the extension of the PPKM for the next two weeks until June 6, 2022, the Jabodetabek agglomeration areas (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi) experienced a decrease in the PPKM level assessment to Level 1.

Regarding this condition, the Director-General of Bina Adwil Safrizal said that the PPKM evaluation which was carried out every 2 weeks showed that conditions were getting better.

"We see data on changes in the number of regions at each PPKM level both in Java Bali and outside Java Bali showing conditions that are getting better, by increasing the number of regions that are at Level 1, including Jabodetabek," said Safrizal in his statement, Tuesday, May 24.

Overall, the number of regions at Level 1 in the Java-Bali PPKM has increased from the original 11 regions to 41 regions.

Regions at Level 2 have decreased from the original 116 regions to 86 regions, and regions at Level 3 remain 1 region (Pemekasan Regency), and there are no regions at Level 4.

"We continue to hope that this condition will continue, even though the government has relaxed the use of masks, especially in open spaces that are not crowded with people. But for vulnerable groups, the elderly, who have comorbidities, as well as people who have symptoms of cough and runny nose, they should continue to wear masks when active," said Safrizal.