COVID-19 Cases Soar, People's Consultative Assembly Chairman Bamsoet Gives Warning To Tighten The Community Activity Restrictions

JAKARTA - Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet) reminded the government and stakeholders to withdraw the emergency brake again to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 which has experienced a recent spike in cases.

The reason is, in the past month, the daily death rate due to COVID-19 has never been below 100 people per day.

According to Bamsoet, the government must carry out strict supervision so that COVID-19 cases do not expand and the death toll does not continue to increase.

"The current spike in cases seems to return the trend of Indonesia's COVID-19 cases to its initial position in 2021", Bamsoet told reporters on Monday, June 14.

The former chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) also asked the government to immediately isolate areas that were suspected of having COVID-19 transmission. Such as DKI Jakarta, Kudus, Bangkalan, and Bandung.

"It is necessary to strictly implement Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) and close the entrances for residents who want to go to areas with high cases. That way, there is no mobility of residents who go out or enter and are at risk of carrying the COVID-19 mutant virus", said Bamsoet.

Local governments, he continued, must also encourage neighborhoods and related stakeholders to collaborate in suppressing the spread of the virus. One of them by boosting vaccination.

In addition, according to him, the government also needs to formulate a number of policies as measures to reduce the rate of COVID-19 cases, especially in areas with high case numbers.

For example, by implementing a work from home (WFH) policy, temporarily closing economic sectors, or carrying out other tightening measures.

"The government and the apparatus are to tighten the application of health protocols (prokes), as well as to reinforce actions for residents who do not heed the health protocols", he urged.

"Given that the slack behavior of the community in carrying out health care programs is one of the factors that has contributed to the surge in COVID-19 cases", added Bamsoet.