Jokowi: Countries Whose Residents Have Been Vaccinated 60 Percent Also Experience Another Spike In COVID-19

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo asked the public to continue to comply with the implementation of health protocols even though several areas showed progress in handling COVID-19.

Jokowi explained that several countries that have implemented large numbers of vaccinations have also experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases due to people ignoring health protocols.

"Several countries whose population has been vaccinated more than 60 percent are currently experiencing another surge in COVID-19 cases. This is because the people are not disciplined in implementing health protocols", said Jokowi in a virtual press conference, Monday, 30 August.

Jokowi admitted that currently, the implementation of health protocols in several sectors had shown good results. For this reason, the government has made some adjustments to the implementation of PPKM (Community Activity Restrictions) in Java-Bali.

However, Jokowi asked all parties to remain cautious in responding to this trend of improvement by reflecting on the spike in cases in several countries. "We must study the development of the COVID-19 situation in various countries and continue to take important lessons from it", said Jokowi.

"Therefore, we must work together to keep the COVID-19 cases from rising again. The key is simple, let's get vaccinated immediately, let's be disciplined to apply health protocols", he continued.

In his statement, Jokowi also announced that PPKM in Java-Bali was extended for the next week until September 6, 2021, as was the implementation of PPKM outside Java-Bali which was extended from August 23 to September 6.

"The government has decided that from August 31 to September 6, 2021, as follows, the Java-Bali region will have additional level 3 agglomerations, namely Malang Raya and Solo Raya", he said.

So, said Jokowi, the level 3 regions in this week's PPKM are the Jabodetabek agglomerations, Bandung Raya, Surabaya Raya, Malang Raya, Solo Raya and then Semarang Raya dropped to level 2.

Overall in Java-Bali, PPKM Level 4 decreased from 51 districts/cities to 25 districts/cities, PPKM Level 3 from 67 districts/cities increased to 76 districts/cities, and PPKM Level 2 from 10 districts/cities increased to 27 district/cities.

Meanwhile, for areas outside Java-Bali, improvements have also been made. Level 4 from 7 provinces to 4 provinces. Level 4 from 104 regencies/cities to 85 regencies/cities. Level 3 from 234 regencies/cities to 232 regencies/cities. Level 2 from 48 regencies/cities to 68 regencies/cities. Then, level 1 is from no district/city to 1 district/city.