Epidemiologist Suggests PPKM Level 4 To Be Extended By One More Week

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JAKARTA - Today is the last day of PPKM implementation. The government has not yet decided to extend the PPKM or not. According to an epidemiologist from Griffith University Australia, Dicky Budiman, PPKM needs to be extended one more week.

"If possible, the PPKM will be extended for another week," said Dicky to VOI, Monday, August 9.

Dicky admitted that currently the number of corona cases nationally had begun to decline. However, he feels it is still too early to think that the spike in cases has passed.

Because, currently, active cases are still high and the trend of increasing the number of COVID-19 cases has not slowed down. Not to mention, a number of areas outside Java and Bali showed an increase in cases.

"Currently, it's too early to say that the spike in cases has passed. So, give me one week so that this month's effort can be optimized. Because, although cases in big cities are decreasing, now I see cases increasing in villages. For Java-Bali That's my advice," he explained.

In areas that are starting to show a decline in cases, the extension of the PPKM is needed to restore the health system, the performance of human resources (health workers), to the provision of medical facilities such as oxygen and medicine.

Meanwhile, for regions that are currently showing an increase in cases, it is necessary to extend the PPKM to reduce COVID-19 cases again.

"Currently a number of areas outside Java and Bali are showing an increase in cases. If PPKM is extended, they must learn how to handle COVID-19 from Java and Bali, especially Sumatra and NTT. The point is to strengthen the 3T, 5M, and vaccination strategies," he said. he.

If the government extends the PPKM, Dicky reminded them to focus on strengthening the distribution of social safety nets for citizens evenly, ranging from social assistance to business incentives.