President Jokowi: PPKM Remains Indonesia’s Most Viable Policy Against Covid-19

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has maintained that the Enforced Micro-Scale Restriction of Community Activities or PPKM remains Indonesia’s best option in containing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

The President admitted that he decided to retain PPKM instead of more rigorous policies such as enforced lockdowns or Large-Scale Social Distancing (PSBB) which were advocated by certain groups and individuals.

“We have taken into consideration Indonesia’s political and socio-economic conditions, as well as the policies adopted by other countries. Our findings show that PPKM is the best policy we can take, because it can contain Covid-19 without shutting down the Indonesian economy” he said.

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President Jokowi urged governors, regents, mayors and other officials nationwide to intensify enforcement of PPKM all the way down to village and neighborhood levels.

“If enforced properly, PPKM can prevent the spread of Covid-19. The problem is that it is still enforced sporadically, not evenly nationwide,” he noted.

The President pointed out that the public has a vital role in breaking the Covid-19 chain of transmission. “I have a simple request to make for the public, and that is to stay at home if you have no urgent need to be outside the house,” he said.

“I also urge them to comply with health protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands, and maintain social distancing.”

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He also appealed to the piety of many Indonesians to persuade them to get their Covid-19 vaccines by pointing out that no religions rejected the vaccine.