PPKM Java-Bali Extended Until October 18, Only Blitar Regions Enter PPKM Level 1

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan/DOK VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The government has extended the implementation of PPKM in Java-Bali for 2 weeks until October 18. The good news is that there is one area, namely Blitar, East Java, which can already implement PPKM Level 1, or you could say the new normal.

"The government will test the implementation of PPKM Level 1, the new normal for Blitar City," said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in a virtual press conference, Monday, October 4.

Luhut said that the implementation of the Level 1 PPKM trial in Blitar was implemented because it had fulfilled the WHO indicator requirements and the target for vaccination coverage of dose 1 was 70 percent and dose 1 for elderly people was 60 percent.

"The implementation of PPKM Level 1 will approach normal community life activities," he said.

To compensate for these conditions, the government will increase surveillance, testing and tracing measures, to increase the discipline of health protocols.

In its implementation, the government will deploy a special team to monitor the development of PPKM Level 1 in Blitar City, with the hope that it can become a role model for other districts/cities.

"We have also formed a task force consisting of experts who are experts in their fields to stay for some time in Blitar to monitor. If this is successful, we will expand it to cities that can enter level 1," explained Luhut .

In addition, the government will also carry out strict supervision by monitoring all community activities and activities in the Blitar City area so that they can immediately respond to emergencies that may come suddenly.

Meanwhile, in the extension of PPKM on October 5 to 18, 2021, Luhut said there was an increase in the number of regions implementing PPKM Level 3 from 84 regencies/cities to 107 regencies/cities.

Until now, there are still 20 regions that will continue PPKM Level 2 for the next two weeks. Then, there is no area that is still undergoing PPKM Level 4.

Luhut said, the increase in the number of regions implementing PPKM Level 3, which was previously level 2, was due to the fact that these regions had not met the vaccination target for implementing PPKM Level 2.

"Cities at level 2 that previously received dispensation (on the implementation of PPKM until October 4) are currently unable to achieve the vaccination coverage target," he concluded.