JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menkomarves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan admits that he often gets questions about the possibility of stopping PPKM.
Luhut explained, PPKM will continue to apply as long as the COVID-19 pandemic still hits Indonesia. He said this after announcing the extension of the PPKM in Java and Bali until August 23.
"I want to explain that as long as COVID-19 is still a pandemic, PPKM will continue to be used as an instrument to control community mobility and activities," Luhut said in a virtual press conference, Monday, August 16.
Luhut said, if an area shows an improving COVID-19 situation, then PPKM will be gradually lowered to a lower level, not stopped.
"If the COVID-19 situation gets better, of course the PPKM level will be lowered to a lower level, where levels 2 and 1 will later approach the new normal life situation. Therefore, evaluations will be carried out every week so that changes in the situation can be responded to quickly, " he said.
Luhut emphasized that there are three main pillars in terms of handling the COVID-19 pandemic. The first is the rapid increase in vaccination coverage, the second is the high application of 3T, and the third is 3M compliance, especially regarding the use of good masks.
Luhut said, in dealing with this pandemic, the government always prioritizes a balance between health and economic aspects.
"The reopening of community mobility and activities must be carried out gradually, along with increasing vaccination coverage, compliance with health protocols and speed of testing, tracing and treatment. So, it does not cause a significant spread of COVID-19," Luhut explained.
Previously, Luhut announced that PPKM Level 4, Level 3, and Level 2 in Java and Bali were extended for the next week.
Luhut acknowledged that the number of COVID-19 cases on August 15 had fallen by 76 percent and active cases had fallen 53 percent from their peak. However, he said the mobility of the community had returned to normal conditions.
"This indicates a significant increase in people's mobility compared to the beginning of last July. On the one hand, this shows that the economy is recovering quickly but there is a risk of increasing cases in the next 2 to 3 weeks if we are not careful. This is good enough, it must be maintained," said Luhut.
In the implementation of the extension of the PPKM for the next week, there are additional districts/cities entering level 3 as many as 8 districts/cities, so that the total regencies/cities included in levels 3 and 2 reach 61 districts/cities.
There are a number of regulatory changes in the current implementation of PPKM. The government has relaxed the capacity for activities in places of worship. Now places of worship are allowed to contain a maximum of 50 percent. Previously, places of worship were limited to a maximum of 25 percent.
The government also allows outdoor sports activities that number no more than 4 people and do not involve physical contact.
Not only that, the government has also relaxed the capacity of visitors to malls or shopping centers in the extension of this PPKM to 50 percent. Restaurants within the mall are also allowed to serve dine-in.
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