JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Jakarta Provincial Government has decided to extend its transitory large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) until January 3, 2021.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said that the move to once again extend the city’s PSBB is to anticipate a potential surge in fresh Covid-19 cases from the year-end holiday.
“We are monitoring the movement of residents and controlling the situation to avoid any virus transmission from people outside of Jakarta entering the city or vice-versa.”
After a long year spent in lockdown and uncertainties, Jakarta residents and much of Indonesia are anxiously awaiting the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Read also: Important Things to Know about Year-End Holiday Restrictions in Jakarta
However, Anies reminded residents yet again to refrain from joining any gatherings and to stay home during the holiday break.
“It is crucial for the families in Jakarta to not travel outside the home, let alone travel outside of the city.”
Preparations ahead of the holidays
Widyastuti, Head of the Jakarta Health Agency, said that the provincial government is moving fast to add self-isolation beds and ICU rooms for Covid-19 patients.
Widyastuti highlighted that the Covid-19 isolation beds in Indonesia’s capital city is already 85 percent filled. Out of the total 6,663 isolation beds, 5,691 are occupied.
Read also: Daily Occupancy of Covid-19 Isolation Beds in Jakarta Nears 80 Percent
Government referral hospitals are brimming with patients as well. Out of their 907 rooms available, 80 percent or 722 are occupied by Covid-19 patients.
The plan for the provincial government is to add an extra 113 ICU beds and 508 isolation rooms in addition to having more medical workers on duty.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Jakarta as of December 20 is 163,111 cases with 146,958 of those who have recovered and 3,087 coronavirus-related deaths.
(Writer: Singgih Wiryono | Editors: Egidius Patnistik, Irfan Maullana)
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