PPKM Java-Bali Extended, More Areas Apply Level 2

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan/PHOTO via Antara

JAKARTA - The government has extended the implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in Java-Bali for the next week, from March 15 to 21.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, revealed that currently, more and more people are experiencing a decline in the PPKM level assessment to Level 2.

"Along with the decrease in cases, the number of regencies/cities entering Level 2 based on this week's assessment has increased. Detailed decisions regarding this will be contained in the Ministry of Home Affairs which will be issued today", said Luhut in a virtual press conference, Monday, March 14.

Luhut revealed that the pandemic condition in Indonesia was getting better. This is indicated by the declining trend of positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the rate of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients nationally.

"Today the number of cases is below 10,000, while the number of recoveries has reached more than 39,000. This is in line with the significant decline in cases and hospitalizations in all areas of Java and Bali Provinces", Luhut explained.

Previously, during the past week, 37 districts/cities in Java-Bali implemented PPKM Level 2, 84 districts/cities implemented PPKM Level 3, and 7 districts/cities implemented PPKM Level 4.

During the PPKM period from 8 to 14 March 2021, the agglomeration areas that implemented PPKM Level 2 were Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek), as well as Surabaya, Gresik, Lamongan, Bangkalan, Mojokerto, and Sidoarjo (Greater Surabaya).

Meanwhile, for other agglomeration areas in Java, such as Greater Bandung, Greater Malang, Greater Solo, and Greater Semarang, currently PPKM Level 3 is still in the status of PPKM. Likewise, DI Yogyakarta and Bali are still implementing PPKM Level 3 in the past week.