Indonesia to Continue Stricter Protocols in Java, Bali as Covid-19 Cases Hike

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com -  Partial lockdown will likely be continued in Indonesia's Java and Bali islands by another 14 days starting from January 25 as the islands' Covid-19 caseload continues to climb and people still get sanctioned for violating the health protocols.  

The partial lockdown, or locally known as Enforced Restrictions of Community Activities (PPKM), is scheduled to take place until February 8, bringing it the second time this year since it was first announced on January 11.

“Java and Bali have been selected for PPKM, but the latest figures have not resulted in a significant reduction in Covid-19 transmission rates,” said the Ministry of Home Affairs' Director General for Area Administration, Syafrizal, on Wednesday, January 20.

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“We are currently monitoring several priority provinces, especially those that are in the high category [of Covid-19 transmission rates],” Syafrizal added. 

This decision was taken after the number of daily Covid-19 cases doubled to over 10,000 after the Christmas and New Year holidays, reaching a new record of more than 14,000 confirmed cases on January 16.

"PPKM will be enforced more rigorously until the number of Covid-19 cases can be reduced significantly," he said, adding that this includes reducing the BOR [bed occupancy ratio). 

Covid-19 violation persist 

Meanwhile in Central Java, Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Police (AKBP) Ari Wibowo, Semarang Police chief, reported that the city has cracked down on thousands of individuals and companies for violating PPKM. The authorities have imposed sanctions from verbal warning to letters of reprimand.

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“The joint operation, which was carried out with the Indonesian Military [TNI] and Public Order Enforcers [Satpol PP], has imposed 18,299 verbal sanctions, 171 written sanctions, 4,668 other sanctions and the dissolution of 71 community activities that violate health protocols,” he said on Wednesday, January 20.

Ari further added that they would continue to work with sub precinct police [Polsek] to enforce the health-protocol policy to contain the spread of Covid-19.

PPKM is part of a ministerial order for a number of regional administrations in Java and Bali in response to the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant. The initiative aims to reduce the transmission rates. 

(Writer: Sania Mashabi, Dian Ade Permana | Editor Dani Prabowo, Dony Aprian)

Sources: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/01/20/12093471/pemerintah-akan-perpanjang-pembatasan-kegiatan-masyarakat-di-jawa-bali?page=all#page2.

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/01/21/10415001/23209-pelanggar-disanksi-selama-penerapan-ppkm-di-kabupaten-semarang.