The Government's Reason For Changing The Term Of Emergency PPKM To PPKM Level 4: Taking Into Account The Psychology Of The Community

JAKARTA - The spokesman for the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Jodi Mahardi, explained the government's reason for changing the term Emergency PPKM to Level 4 PPKM.

Since the beginning of the implementation of Emergency PPKM, the government has four indicators for determining mobility restrictions in each region. The loosest (relaxation) is at level 1, to the tightest or those implementing Emergency PPKM are at level 4.

Then when the Emergency PPKM was extended to July 25, the government changed the term to PPKM Level 4 on the grounds of taking into account the psychological condition of the community.

"Regarding several questions how the government determines levels 1 to 4, decisions regarding tightening and relaxation must take into account the psychological condition of the community and the level of disease transmission," said Jodi in a statement, Wednesday, July 21.

There are also indicators in determining the level of restrictions in each region referring to a number of factors. First, the addition of confirmed cases per 100 thousand residents for 1 week. This is to determine the rate of transmission of COVID-19.

The second factor is the number of COVID-19 cases treated in hospitals per 100,000 residents for 1 week. This indicator can be a leading indicator of the increase in cases, because some areas are holding back the publication of the increase in cases.

"Third, the bed occupancy rate (BOR) of the isolation and ICU facilities for COVID-19. This also represents an indicator of health response in case of an increase in cases," said Jodi.

The determination of levels 1 to 4 in each region can change according to the results of the government's evaluation. This mobility restriction policy can turn into a tightening or relaxation.

"Gradual tightening needs to be done if the COVID-19 transmission rate enters a high level and the BOR increases significantly to close to 80 percent," said Jodi.

"On the contrary, gradual relaxation can be carried out if the COVID-19 transmission rate has slowed and the BOR has consistently decreased below 80 percent for a certain period of time," he continued.

It is known, the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian issued the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 22 of 2021 regarding PPKM Level 4 COVID-19 in the Java and Bali Regions.

The Inmendagri is a regulation regarding the extension of the Emergency PPKM until July 25 which was announced yesterday by President Joko Widodo. However, the term PPKM Emergency was changed to PPKM Level 4.

In general, the rules for implementing and monitoring mobility restrictions in PPKM Level 4 are the same as those for Emergency PPKM. In addition, regions that are determined to apply PPKM Level 3 also have the same restrictions as PPKM Level 4.