PPKM Outside Java Extended By Two Weeks, Coordinating Minister Airlangga: According To President Jokowi's Instructions

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said that the government decided to extend the period of implementation of the Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) outside Java for the next two weeks.

"The evaluation of PPKM outside Java is carried out every week, and today September 20 is the PPKM period outside Java will end. Earlier, by the direction of the President, an extension will be carried out for the next two weeks, from September 21 to October 4, 2021", he said during a virtual press conference, Monday, September 20.

According to Airlangga, he also received special instructions from the Head of State to pay close attention to the new variant of COVID-19 and the mitigation efforts being carried out.

"In the ratas (limited meeting) the President reminded us to be careful of the new variants, namely MU and Lambda. Then it must also tighten the entrances from land, air, and sea. This of course involves all stakeholders to overcome these new variants", he said.

Airlangga added, the government will continue to strengthen the use of the PeduliLindung application to improve the handling of the pandemic in the country. In addition, there is a discourse to integrate the system with similar systems in general so that the monitoring process can be optimized.

“The use of the PeduliLindung application must be used in an inventive manner. Then this platform will be integrated with similar applications globally", he said.

Furthermore, Airlangga was specifically asked by the President to boost vaccination programs in several areas outside Java, especially in areas that are still low in distribution.

"In the low vaccination area, Mr. President pays attention to West Sumatra and Lampung so that they can continue to be increased so that the minimum rate of 25 percent can be achieved", he said.

On the same occasion, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, announced the extension of the PPKM in Java-Bali.

"Looking at the existing developments, the PPKM level changes are enforced for 2 weeks for Java and Bali, but evaluations are still carried out every week to anticipate changes that occur so quickly", he said.