Follow Governor Ganjar's Instructions, Pekalongan City Government Review Lockdown Implementation At RT-RW Level

JAKARTA - The Pekalongan City Government, Central Java, will immediately review the implementation of local lockdowns at the level of the neighborhood associations (RT-RW) in the red zone area. This method is expected to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Pekalongan Mayor Afzan Arslan Djunaid said the implementation of the lockdown was in line with the soaring COVID-19 cases in the region as well as responding quickly to seven instructions from the Governor of Central Java to regional heads in 25 regencies/cities.

"Currently, there are 25 regencies/cities in Central Java that are categorized as red zones, including Pekalongan City. Therefore, we immediately take steps to anticipate the spread of COVID-19," he said in Pekalongan as reported by Antara, Thursday, July 1.

The seven instructions from the Governor of Central Java include, among others, regents and mayors are required to carry out a total restriction (lockdown) at the RT/RW/village and sub-district levels that are categorized as red zones.

During the lockdown, the regional government will limit the mobility of residents in and out of the RT/RW area at a maximum of 20.00 WIB and all residents are prohibited from doing activities outside these hours except for emergencies.

Other instructions include prohibiting crowds involving more than three people, prohibiting crowds in public places, and asking religious activities to be carried out independently in their respective homes until their area is no longer included in the red zone category.

"In Pekalongan City, there are several RT/RW with red zones, even the RT where I live, namely Pesindon, has also imposed a lockdown," Afzan said.

He said that currently local lockdown efforts were continuing to be coordinated with the kelurahan and sub-district authorities for the implementation and intensified spraying of disinfectants into the homes of residents who were positively exposed to COVID-19.

In addition, he said, the city government also continues to accelerate the mass COVID-19 vaccination coverage, which is now targeting employees in a number of factories and the community and coordinating with the Central Java Provincial Government to fulfill oxygen supply in hospitals.

"We hope that through this mass vaccination, COVID-19 cases in the next one week or two can go down," he said.