Last Day, Epidemiologist Suggests Jokowi To Relax PPKM In Java-Bali

JAKARTA - Today is the last day of the implementation of the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) Levels 1 to 4. The government will announce the continuation of PPKM.

An epidemiologist from Griffith University Australia, Dicky Budiman, suggested that the PPKM in Java and Bali be relaxed. Because, at this time the increase in cases in Java-Bali began to decline.

"I think, for Java and Bali, the PPKM level can be lowered. However, the indicators, such as the positivity rate to hospital occupancy, can be lowered. However, in more detail, how many people are in the ICU and how many people are receiving ventilators for COVID-19?" 19," said Dicky when contacted by VOI, Monday, August 16.

Looking at the development of cases in each province, Dicky views that DKI Jakarta's PPKM Level 4 can be relaxed to become PPKM Level 2. Because currently the positivity rate in the Capital City has reached 7.7 percent.

Then, the occupancy of isolation beds at COVID-19 referral hospitals has decreased to 33 percent and ICU 59 percent. Then, the vaccination program in Jakarta has reached 9.01 million people in the first dose and 4.26 million in the second dose.

"For Jakarta, the PPKM can be lowered to level 2," said Dicky.

Meanwhile, other provinces can be lowered from level 4 to level 3. Based on data from the Task Force for Handling COVID-19, the occupancy of isolation beds in West Java is 35.14 percent, Central Java is 40.62 percent, East Java is 56.15, Banten is 35.07. percent, DI Yogyakarta 61.87, and Bali is still at 74.74 percent.

Then, ICU occupancy other than in Jakarta is still above 60 percent, namely West Java 64.88 percent, Central Java 63.07 percent, East Java 72.95 percent, DI Yogyakarta 61.94 percent, Banten 61.38 percent, and Bali 80.20 percent.

"Provinces other than Jakarta in Java and Bali were lowered to level 3 based on hospital occupancy," said Dicky.

As is known, as of August 15, there were additional 20,813 new COVID-19 cases nationwide and the accumulation reached 3,854,354 cases. Then, active cases amounted to 384,807 cases.

Based on the implementation of PPKM from August 10 to 16, 2021, there are 71 out of 128 regencies/cities in the Java-Bali region which are at level 4. In the past week, there was 1 district/city which dropped from level 3 to level 2 and 26 districts /cities that dropped from level 4 to 3.