PSBB Jawa-Bali Cannot Be Half-Half

JAKARTA - Next week, 23 regions in Java and Bali will impose tightening of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB), according to a central government decision. PSBB tightening, which will start on January 11-25, is in six provinces.

In the DKI Jakarta Province, it applies in all administrative cities, namely North Jakarta, West Jakarta, Central Jakarta, East Jakarta, South Jakarta, and the Thousand Islands.

In West Java, the city of Bogor, Bogor Regency, Depok City, Bekasi City, Bekasi Regency, and Bandung Raya areas such as Bandung City, West Bandung Regency, Cimahi Regency are tightening. Banten Province is located in the Tangerang Raya area, namely Tangerang City, Tangerang Regency, South Tangerang City.

In Central Java Province are Semarang Raya, Solo Raya, and Banyumas Raya. In DI Yogyakarta are Yogyakarta City, Bantul Regency, Gunung Kidul Regency, Sleman Regency, and Kulonprogo Regency. In East Java are all areas of Malang Raya and Surabaya Raya. Meanwhile in Bali are Denpasar City and Badung Regency.

According to an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, the tightening of community activities in the 23 regions was not effective.

Miko said that the control of COVID-19 cases would be more effective if all districts / cities with high risk zones (red zones) and moderate risks (orange zones) were also tightened with the PSBB.

"What the government is doing is good but not perfect. However, what should be done to tighten the restrictions should be in all red and orange cities in Java and Bali regencies," Miko told VOI, Thursday, January 7.

In determining the areas that are included in the Java-Bali PSBB tightening, the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) has four criteria.

These criteria are the death rate above the national average mortality rate or 3 percent, then the cure rate is below the national average cure rate, which is below 82 percent.

Furthermore, the active case rate is below the average national active case rate, which is around 14 percent, and the hospital filling rate or BOR for ICU and isolation is above 70 percent.

However, in the shadow of the spike in COVID-19 cases after the Christmas and New Year 2020 holidays, it is necessary to tighten all areas of the red and orange zones. Bearing in mind, there is no prohibition on inter-regional community mobility.

Based on zoning maps in Java and Bali compiled by the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 as of January 3, there are 32 regencies / cities with red zones. Then, there are 83 districts / cities with an orange zone.

"If the government is serious, it should prevent the increase of COVID-19 in all the red zones in the orange zone as well. Moreover, the orange zone is also no longer a safe zone. If the government and society are careless, it could potentially enter the red risk zone too," explained Miko.

For information, there are eight forms of restriction on community activities. The tightening is as follows:

1. Limit workplaces to 75 percent WFH and enforce strict health protocols.

2. Online teaching and learning activities.

3. The essential sectors related to the basic needs of the community continue to operate 100 percent by regulating operational hours, capacities, and maintaining strict health protocols.

4. Limiting the opening hours of activities in shopping centers until 19.00 local time. Eating and drinking at a place to eat or a restaurant is a maximum of 25 percent. Ordering food via take away or delivery is still permitted.

5. Allow construction activities to operate 100 percent with the implementation of stricter health protocols.

6. Allow places of worship to impose a 50 percent capacity limit on the implementation of stricter health protocols.

7. Public facilities and socio-cultural activities are temporarily suspended.

8. Arrangement of capacity and operating hours of transportation modes.