PPKM Reduces COVID-19 Cases, Jokowi: Thank You, Indonesian People

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) claims that the implementation of Emergency and Level 4 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) which ends today has succeeded in reducing COVID-19 cases.

Jokowi thanked the Indonesian people for their support and understanding.

"I would like to express my gratitude to all Indonesian people for their understanding and support for the implementation of the policy on limiting community activities that have been carried out for the past 23 days," Jokowi said in a video description posted on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube, Sunday, July 25.

According to him, the trend of improving the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen from the decrease in the number of positive cases, the bed occupancy rate (BOR), to the positivity rate.

Even so, he reminded all parties to remain careful in responding to the improvement trend so that the increase in COVID-19 cases did not occur amid the onslaught of the Delta variant virus.

"There has been an improvement trend in controlling COVID-19, the rate of addition of cases, the BOR, and the positivity rate are starting to show a decline, as happened in several provinces in several provinces on the island of Java," said Jokowi.

"However, we must remain cautious in responding to this downward trend, and remain vigilant against the highly contagious Delta variant," he added.

As previously reported, the government has officially extended the implementation of PPKM Level 4 from 26 July to 2 August. This decision was taken after considering aspects of health, economy, and dynamics in the community.

In contrast to the previous restrictions, the government decided to make a number of easing. One of them is tent stalls, street vendors (PKL), hawker stalls, and the like that have their place of business in an open place allowed to open with strict health protocols until 20.00. In addition, visitors can eat on site for a maximum of 20 minutes.