Positivity Rate Is Still High, The House Of Representatives Speaker Reminds Government To Be Careful About Easing PPKM Level 4

Chairman of the House of Representatives Mrs. Maharani (Photo: House of Representatives)

JAKARTA - Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, reminded the government to be more careful after the decision to extend the Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Level 4 as well as loosen it for the small business sector. The reason, he said, from the evaluation results submitted by the government, there are a number of indicators of transmission that have not decreased.

“Although there has been a downward trend, for example in the addition of cases and the positivity rate, in some areas these indicators are still increasing. Likewise, the death rate, in a number of areas is still increasing significantly. Here the government must be extra careful", said Puan in Jakarta, Monday, July 26.

According to the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, PPKM Level 4 with all its future adjustments must be able to reduce all indicators of the rate of transmission, including the death rate during self-isolation. The local government, said Puan, should not argue that the death rate is high because many self-isolation patients do not report it.

"That is precisely where the task of local government officials who are assisted by the community is to continue to monitor the condition of their area as long as the PPKM Level 4 is implemented", said Puan.

In the future, Puan appealed to both the central and regional governments to be more responsive to any changes in transmission conditions that occur. If the PPKM Level 4 is relaxed for the small business sector, according to him, the government means that it has returned to the gas, although it has not fully released the brakes.

Under conditions of easing like this, continued Puan, the government must be more alert to take action if there is a sudden increase in the rate of transmission of COVID-19. “The government's action in changing the 'gas' or 'brake' mode must not be late, it must not be too fast with fluctuations in the transmission of the virus itself. That means, if you start to gas, don't forget to brake", said Puan.

Therefore, Puan emphasized, in a situation like this, data on the transmission rate becomes a very vital instrument in making any government policies going forward. "Never play with data, for example by lowering testing so that the transmission rate seems to be under control", she stressed again.

Puan also asked the government to continue to increase testing, tracking, and also centralized isolation places. Under these conditions, she said that a decrease in the number of testing and tracing should not occur for any reason.

We are grateful that the rules for small businesses have been relaxed because business actors can return to their activities and work together to stimulate the people's economy. However, he reminded business actors to also work together in implementing health protocols and obeying existing rules.

“For example, if a food stall is allowed to open until 20:00 p.m., don't let anyone miss the time. Likewise, regarding the duration of the 20-minute meal, we realize that this is the most difficult thing for officers to monitor. Therefore, traders need high awareness to obey the rules without being monitored”, she explained.

"If our common awareness of the rules and progress has grown like that, we are optimistic that these difficult times will soon pass", continued the chairman of the PDIP Party Central Executive Board (DPP).

In addition to the small business sector, Puan added, the government must also pay attention to the community of non-essential workers who earn daily income. Social assistance must be ensured that it has arrived in their hands.

"The House of Representatives (DPR) will oversee and supervise the distribution of social assistance so that it is right on target", said Puan Maharani.