Government Affirms PPKM Not Relating To Religious Momentum

Key Member of KSP Abraham Wirotomo/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) emphasized that tightening the level of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) is not related to religious momentum, but refers to data, expert studies, and assessments of the pandemic situation in each region.

"Indicators used in determining the PPKM level for each region refer to the recommendations of experts and the United Nations Agency on World Health (WHO), such as case numbers, testing numbers, tracing, bed occupancy (bed occupancy), vaccines, and others," said KSP Main Expert Abraham Wirotomo in a written statement in Jakarta, Thursday 10 February.

KSP also denied the issue that the PPKM level would definitely be raised before the month of Ramadan.

"So it's really not right to link the tightening of the PPKM level with the momentum of certain religious celebrations," said Abraham.

Abraham ensured that the government was very transparent regarding data and studies in determining the level of PPKM. The results of the assessment of the COVID-19 situation in each district and city, he said, can be viewed and verified on the official website www.vacsin.kemkes.go.id.

"There is all the data," said Abraham.

He asked the public not to be swayed by slanted issues that link the PPKM level with religious activities.

"Now is our momentum to unite and work together to face the Omicron wave," he said. Previously, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) extended the PPKM with level adjustments to anticipate the surge in the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. "As a form of policy anticipation, the Minister of Home Affairs has extend and renew the PPKM level for the Java-Bali region through the issuance of the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 9 of 2022," said the Director General of Regional Administration Development of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Safrizal ZA. The extension of the PPKM included a change in the number of regions at level 1 which decreased from 40 regions to 30 regions, and level 2 from 86 regions to 57 regions. Meanwhile, regions at level 3 experienced a significant increase from 2 regions to 41 area.