Epidemiologist Suggests Extended PPKM Outside Java-Bali

JAKARTA - An epidemiologist from Griffith University Australia, Dicky Budiman suggested that the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) outside Java and Bali be extended.

As is known, today is the last day of implementing PPKM Levels 1 to 4. Dicky views that PPKM outside Java-Bali needs to be extended to further suppress the spread of COVID-19.

"For outside Java and Bali, this is an important note. The government must strengthen PPKM," said Dicky when contacted by VOI, Monday, August 16.

The Task Force for Handling COVID-19 noted that there was indeed a decline in cases in a number of areas that implemented PPKM Level 4, such as districts/cities in East Kalimantan, Riau, West Sumatra, and South Sulawesi.

However, during the past week, there were still several provinces that experienced the highest increase in active cases. The five provinces with the highest increase in cases were also outside Java, namely North Sumatra, Central Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, West Sumatra and South Sulawesi.

The problem, said Dicky, is that testing, tracing, and treatment efforts, as well as COVID-19 vaccination outside Java and Bali are not as massive as in Java and Bali. "Outside of Java, the 3T and vaccination issues are a big homework," he said.

Therefore, the government must extend PPKM by strengthening 3T. Regarding the limitations of the PCR and antigen test kits, the local government can take alternative steps by detecting suspected cases through the symptoms they feel.

"The important thing is that there is visitation by means of early risk detection. Health workers can be provided with a simple checklist to find suspected cases, then isolation or quarantine can be carried out immediately. Without testing, there is no problem, the important thing is that there are effective isolation and quarantine interventions and find contact case," explained 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 10 to 16 August 2021, there were 45 of the 386 regencies/cities outside Java and Bali that were at level 4. districts/cities that have dropped from level 4 to level 3.