5 Regions In North Sumatra Including Medan Upgraded To Level 3 PPKM

ILLUSTRATION/CITY OF MEDAN/ANTARA

MEDAN - The government has determined that five regencies and cities in North Sumatra Province have increased their status to level III in the Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), in line with the high number of COVID-19 cases in the local area.

Secretary of the North Sumatra Provincial Health Office, Dr. Aris Yudhariansyah, in Medan, Tuesday, said that the determination of the PPKM status was contained in the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 11 of 2022 dated February 14.

"Out of a total of 33 regencies and cities in North Sumatra, five regions have PPKM Level III status," he said, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, February 14.

Aris said that the five regencies and cities in North Sumatra with PPKM Level III status were Nias Regency, Langkat Regency, Medan City, Pematangsiantar City, and Gunungsitoli City.

Meanwhile, there are 16 areas with Level 2 PPKM status, namely North Tapanuli Regency, Karo Regency, Labuhanbatu Regency, Toba Regency, South Nias Regency, Pakpak Bharat Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency.

Then Samosir Regency, North Padang Lawas Regency, Padang Lawas Regency, South Labuhan Batu Regency, North Nias Regency, West Nias Regency, Sibolga City, Tanjung Balai City, and Padangsidimpuan City.

Furthermore, the areas with Level 1 PPKM status are Central Tapanuli Regency, South Tapanuli Regency, Deli Serdang Regency, Simalungun Regency, Asahan Regency, Dairi Regency.

Then Mandailing Natal Regency, Serdang Bedagai Regency, Batubara Regency, North Labuhan Batu Regency, Binjai City, and Tebing Tinggi City.

Aris explained that the determination of the regional level was guided by the indicators for adjusting public health efforts and social restrictions in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic set by the Minister of Health and added with the indicator for the achievement of total dose 1 vaccination.

"Where the district and city PPKM levels are raised by one level if the total achievement of COVID-19 vaccination dose 1 is less than 50 percent," he said.

The North Sumatra Provincial Health Office will continue to strengthen the implementation of 3T, namely testing, tracing, and treatment as an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Despite the series of efforts made, the public is advised to remain disciplined in implementing health protocols, namely wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands, and avoiding crowds.

"Stay disciplined with health protocols to break the chain of spread of COVID-19," he said.