Indonesia Extends Covid-19 Restrictions in Java, Bali Again to Aug. 23

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia extended the Covid-19 level 2 to level 4 restrictions on public activities starting from August 17-23 in Java and Bali areas to stem the transmission rate of the coronavirus.

“The Covid-19 level 4, level 3, and level 2 restrictions in Java and Bali have been extended to August 23,” said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in a televised message on Monday, August 16.

Prior to this, the Covid-19 level 4 restrictions or locally known as PPKM level 4 had been extended four times since July 21 as the country struggles to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Also read: Indonesia Extends Covid-19 Restrictions in Java, Bali to Aug. 16

Luhut said that currently there are additional eight regions in Java and Bali under the category of Covid-19 level 3 restrictions, bringing the total number of the aforementioned category to 61 regencies/cities. This decision was under the purview of the Home Affairs Ministry.

Though the implementation of the high level of Covid-19 measures has been extended in some areas, shopping malls located in the affected areas are allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity and restaurants within the shopping malls can now serve dine-in customers but limit their capacity to 25 percent or two guests per table. Previously, shopping centers could only operate at 25 percent capacity, while restaurants could only offer takeaway or delivery services.

Besides, Luhut who is also the coordinator of the Covid-19 restrictions in Java-Bali said that places of worship in areas that are affected by the Covid-19 level 3 and 4 restrictions are now allowed to go from 25 percent to 50 percent capacity.

“The government will allow places of worship to offer in-person services to 50 percent capacity in districts, cities affected by the Covid-19 level 4 and 3 restrictions under strict health protocols,” Luhut said.

Also read: Jakarta Tightens PPKM, Extends the Policy in the Capital

He reiterated that the Covid-19 restrictions will continue to take place as an instrument for controlling people’s mobility and activity until the pandemic is over.

The PPKM level 4, 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 President Joko Widodo 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.

Also read: Indonesia Requires International Travelers to Show Covid Certificate

Currently, the number of Covid-19 cases and active cases is decreasing. As of Monday, August 16, the government recorded that the number of active cases reached 371,021 patients. A month ago on July 16, for the first time, active cases in the country reached more than 500,000 cases, hitting a record high.

However, the death rate due to Covid-19 in Indonesia is still concerning. The latest data stated that 1,245 patients have died recently, bringing the total death toll to 118.833.