Jokowi Questions The Use Of Total Lockdown

President Joko Widodo (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) warned local governments not to be careless in implementing lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Instead of carrying out the lockdown in one particular area, it is better for the local government to implement a more effective micro policy of limiting community activities (PPKM).

This was conveyed by Jokowi in front of the mayors and deputy mayors who attended the opening ceremony of National Conference IV of the Association of Indonesian Municipal Governments (APEKSI) at the State Palace, Jakarta.

"If it is deemed necessary, the restriction of community activities can be carried out on a micro-scale, in a small scope, be it on a village scale, or neighborhood only. Do not carry out a total lockdown of the entire city if there’s only one person from one neighborhood who is exposed to coronavirus", said Jokowi when opening an event broadcast online on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel, Thursday, 11 February.

"If only one person from one neighborhood is exposed to the virus but keep implementing a total lockdown, what's the use?", he added.

He considered that this step had been done and was wrong. So that all parties without exception, work in more detail for handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, he also ordered the mayors to understand the spread of the virus in their area to the smallest level, namely the neighborhoods. This is intended so that the policies made are not wrongly targeted.

Not only that, in front of the mayors, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta also believes that restriction of community activities on a micro level can reduce the rate of COVID-19 cases in the community. Not only that, he believes that these restrictive activities will not damage economic activities.

"The micro lockdown does not damage the economic growth, does not damage the economic activities of the community because what we are locking is on the scale of the neighborhoods", he said.

He also asked local governments to be careful in implementing policies and not directly impose strict restrictions in one area. Because this is actually detrimental and this has been proven by a number of countries that have implemented the key thoroughly.

"One city can no longer be immediately locked down. Seeing the process carried out by other countries, locking down the entire country, locking down one province, one city, the economy fell. So be careful about this", he said.

As previously reported, the government again implemented restrictions on community activities. In contrast to the previous restrictions on community activities, the restrictions in seven provinces, namely DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Banten, Yogyakarta and, Bali, will refer more to regional zoning.

The zoning will be differentiated from the green zone, yellow zone, orange zone, and red zone with various indicators. This policy will take place from February 9 to 22.