Micro PPKM Called Realistic Steps, Epidemiologist: Big Country Indonesia Can't Be Closed

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JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia (UI) Pandu Riono said that the implementation of Micro Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) is the most realistic step to reduce the rate of transmission of COVID-19 cases in the country.

He also appreciated the attitude of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who preferred this step rather than imposing a lockdown or lockdown, as input from a number of parties.

"I agree with Pak Jokowi (this, ed) the essence of restrictions. He is now aware that whatever the name is is not important," said Pandu in an online discussion broadcast on YouTube, Sunday, June 27.

"So it's a realistic move that what we actually have are restrictions."

This micro-restriction, he said, could be a solution to prevent movement in the community. Considering that so far the addition of COVID-19 cases has occurred massively when there is human movement during long holidays or collective leave.

However, when restrictions were imposed to suppress people's mobility, COVID-19 cases gradually decreased. "So I think this restriction should be maintained but the volume is increased or decreased. I think this is important," said Pandu.

Moreover, he assessed that lockdown or lockdown could not be enforced in the country for two reasons. First, because the area is so large.

"Furthermore, this pandemic is not evenly distributed throughout Indonesia and is only concentrated in certain areas such as Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung, Semarang including Kudus, Surabaya including Madura," said Pandu.

Thus, he assessed that the area should receive priority in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccination coverage.

"So we have to prioritize going there, including vaccination. If there are population restrictions, there must be tightened," he said.

Previously, President Jokowi had heard many inputs related to the handling of COVID-19 which is now increasing, including the implementation of lockdown or lockdown. However, the government said that the implementation of Micro Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) was the most appropriate policy.

"The government has received a lot of input and of course we welcome any input, whether personal, group, or community, including re-imposing PSBB (Large-Scale Social Restrictions) and locking down considering the very rapid spike in positive cases," Jokowi said in a video caption that was shown on Twitter. Presidential Secretariat YouTube, Wednesday, June 23.

Before the policy was taken, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta said the government was trying to study various inputs to deal with the spread of COVID-19. Not only that, his party also takes into account the economic, social, cultural, political conditions in the country as well as experiences from other countries.

Only then did the government decide PPKM Mikro which was the most appropriate policy to stop the transmission of the virus in the country. Moreover, this policy can target the village or community level and not kill the economy.

"Why did the government decide on Micro PPKM? Because the government sees that the Micro PPKM policy is still the most appropriate policy for the current context to control COVID-19 because it can run without shutting down the people's economy," he stressed.

Moreover, Jokowi views that the micro PPKM policy with a lock-down or lock-up actually has the same essence, namely limiting community activities. So, he asked the public not to fuss over the existing terms