The Government Beware Of The Spread Of The Delta Variant Of COVID-19 In Kalimantan And Sumatra

JAKARTA - Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the government is vigilant and continues to anticipate the spread of COVID-19, especially the Delta variant in other regions in the country. Moreover, this new variant of transmission is very fast.

"We have tried to anticipate because (variant, red) this delta is rising very quickly, where approximately other provinces will experience a fairly high spike in the future," Budi said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Tuesday, July 6.

As a result, there are seven provinces on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan which are predicted to experience a fairly high spike in COVID-19 cases.

"We have seen that there are five provinces in Sumatra and two in Kalimantan that we must be careful with so that we can prepare," he said.

The two provinces in Kalimantan that are predicted to experience a surge are West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan. As for the five provinces in Sumatra, namely Riau, Riau Islands, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, and Lampung.

As previously reported, the government has extended the implementation of restrictions on micro community activities (PPKM) outside Java and Bali from 6 to 20 July. This is done to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartato said that the extension of the micro PPKM was carried out by dividing the level of COVID-19 risk per district/city. There is a tightening on the area that enters level 4.

"From the assessment levels in urban districts outside Java, level 4 is in 43 urban districts, level 3 is 187 urban districts, and level 2 is 146 urban districts. Level 4 assessments in 43 urban districts, in 20 provinces, are tightened," Airlangga said in a virtual press conference, Monday, July 5.

The following are the rules for micro PPKM outside Java-Bali:

1. Office activities

- At level 4 work from home (WFH) 75 percent and work from office (WFO) 25 percent 25

- On another level, WFH 50 percent and WFO 50 percent

2. Teaching and learning activities

- At level 4 entirely online

- Other levels, the arrangements follow from the Ministry of Education and Culture with the application of strict protocols

3. Essential sectors (health, foodstuffs, food and beverages, communications, information technology, finance, banking, payment systems, capital markets, logistics, hotels, construction, strategic industries, basic services, public utilities, national vital object industries, and needs community staples) continue to operate 100 percent with capacity operating hours regulations and strict implementation of health protocols

4. Restaurant or eating drinks has a capacity of 25 percent and is open until 17.00, take away or take-away until 20.00

5. Shopping centers or malls are open until 17.00 with a maximum capacity of 25 percent

6. Construction activities operate 100 percent

7. Religious activities in mosques, prayer rooms, churches, temples, monasteries, and other places of worship

- At level 4 temporarily discontinued,

- At other levels and zones in accordance with regulations from the Ministry of Religion with the implementation of strict health protocols

7. Public facilities

- At level 4 temporarily closed

- At another level 25 percent capacity limitation with local regulations

8. Cultural arts activities

- At level 4 closed

- In other levels unlocked a maximum of 25 percent

9. Seminars and meetings

- At level 4 closed

- On another level the capacity is 25 percent

10. Public transportation is carried out with hourly capacity arrangements and protocols by the local government