Indonesia Extends Covid-19 Restrictions, Allows Trial Runs for Some Tourist Attractions to Resume Operations

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia will start trial runs for reopening 20 tourist attractions in alert level 3 cities despite the Covid-19 restrictions on public activities in Java-Bali has been further extended by another week until September 13.

The government started to gradually reopen the country’s economy after the coronavirus infections continue to decline.

“Following continuous improvement in Covid-19 indicators and how the health protocols and the Covid-19 contact tracing app PeduliLindungi have been implemented, some adjustments to public activities can be made during the period of September 7-13,” said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Monday, September 6.

Also read: Covid-19 Restrictions Extended by Another Week in Java, Bali

As the government has begun easing the Covid-19 restrictions, some adjustments have been made, including the rules for places of worship, restaurants, and malls or shopping centers.

“Restaurants within the shopping malls can now serve dine-in customers with a duration of 60 minutes [per customer] but limit their capacity to 50 percent,” Luhut said.

Previously, shopping centers could only operate at 25 percent capacity, while restaurants could only offer takeaway or delivery services.

He went on to say that the trial runs for the reopening of 20 tourist attractions will be implemented in alert level 3 areas under strict health protocols. The government’s Covid-19 contact tracing app PeduliLindungi will also be used.

Also read: WHO Monitors New Covid-19 Mu Variant

Tourist destinations in alert level 2 areas will also be required to use the Covid-19 contact tracing app PeduliLindungi. The detail of the policy will be under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Covid-19 level 2 to level 4 restrictions on public activities (PPKM), which was previously known as the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), has been changed several times, especially in its restrictions related to activity and people’s mobility.

A stricter policy was implemented when Jokowi announced the emergency Covid-19 measures (PPKM darurat) which took effect from July 3-20 this year following a surge in Covid-19 cases. At that time, the increasing number of new confirmed cases was not supported by the improvement of health facilities or hospitals, which then led to a high death rate.

(Writer: Fitria Chusna Farisa | Editor: Bayu Galih)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/09/06/18392831/ppkm-jawa-bali-diperpanjang-hingga-13-september-aturan-kembali-diubah?page=1.