Last Day Of PPKM Level 4, Will There Be Easing?

Uru Bicara Satgas COVID-19 Widu Adisasmito (Photo: doc BNPB)

JAKARTA - The fate of the Level 4 Community Activity Restriction (PPKM) will be determined today, Sunday, after being in effect for five days since it was announced on Tuesday, July 20.

President Jokowi previously stated that he would ease the PPKM in Java and Bali starting July 26 if there was a decrease in cases.

The spokesman for the COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, said there were four components of consideration for easing restrictions.

The indicators for the easing of the emergency PPKM are the calculation of case trends, health system management capacity, aspirations and community behavior with a downward trend in mobility, including community complaints so that restrictions are immediately relaxed.

As well as, the socio-economic impact, especially for people with lower middle economic income and micro-enterprises

So, how is the COVID-19 situation in Indonesia regarding the increase and decrease in cases from 21 July to 24 July 2021?

Illustration (Unsplash)

1. Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Positive cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia have increased by 33,772 people. This addition is based on the examination of 153,330 specimens.

The number of recovered corona patients increased by 32,887 people, bringing the total to 2,356,553 people. Meanwhile, the number of deaths due to COVID-19 was recorded to have increased by 1,383 people.

2. Thursday, July 22, 2021

There were an addition of 49,509 people on Wednesday, July 22, 2021. With this addition, the number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has reached more than 3 million cases, to be exact, 3,033,339 cases since the announcement of the first patient infected with the corona virus on March 2, 2020.

Meanwhile, the number of recovered patients increased by 36,370 people. Thus, the total number of recovered patients is 2,392,923.

Meanwhile, 1,449 patients were also reported to have died. In total, there were 79,032 COVID-19 patients who died.

3. Friday, July 23, 2021

It was reported that 49,071 people were confirmed positive for COVID-19 on Friday, July 23, 2021. With this addition, the total number of people who have been infected with the virus is 3,082,410.

The number of people who have confirmed COVID-19 today was obtained from the examination of 274,246 specimens. Meanwhile, the number of people who have recovered from this disease is 38,988. So that the total recovered patients reached 2,431,911.

4. Saturday, July 24, 2021

The latest data release is the addition of daily COVID-19 cases as of Saturday, July 24, 2021. From the day data, there were 45,416 cases added. This number was obtained from 252,696 specimens examined.

With this addition, the total cases in Indonesia reached 3,127,826 cases. The active cases reached 574,135 cases.

This figure decreased slightly from yesterday which increased to 49,071 cases. Even so, the specimen testing carried out yesterday was more than 274,246.

Illustration (Unsplash)

Easing Predicted Only in Certain Areas

Epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono, predicts that the easing of restrictions on community activities or Emergency PPKM will not be implemented in all regions.

According to him, the easing will only be in areas where the economy is significantly affected due to the tightening of restrictions.

"In areas of high economic growth that have an impact, perhaps Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, where there are demonstrations," said Pandu, Saturday, July 24.

Pandu said that when referring to epidemiological indicators, actually there has not been much change from the restrictions that have been in effect since July 3.

The decline in the number of daily cases lately is due to the declining number of testing. "While the number of patients being treated at the hospital is still large," he said.

As directed by President Joko Widodo on Tuesday, July 20, the policy will be in effect until July 25, 2021.

After that, the government plans to make gradual easing. However, only if COVID-19 cases have shown a decline.

"If the trend of cases continues to decline, then on July 26, 2021, the government will carry out a gradual opening," Jokowi said in a YouTube show at the Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday, July 20.

During the easing period, traditional markets selling basic necessities will be allowed to operate until 20:00 with a total capacity of 50 percent of visitors.

Meanwhile, traditional markets that do not sell basic needs may operate until 15:00 with a capacity of 50 percent of visitors.

Then, small businesses ranging from grocery stores to car washes will be allowed to open until 9pm.

"Street vendors, grocery stores, voucher agents and outlets, laundromats, hawkers, small workshops, vehicle washers and other similar small businesses are allowed to open with strict health protocols until 9 p.m.," Jokowi said.

Furthermore, food stalls, street vendors, hawker stalls and similar businesses are allowed to operate until 21.00.

"It is allowed to open with strict health protocols until 21.00 and a maximum meal time of 30 minutes," the president said.