Indonesia’s Covid-19 Alert Level Lowered in Some Areas, Restrictions Extended to Aug. 30

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Covid-19 alert level in Indonesia has been lowered after a decrease in active cases. However, the Covid-19 restriction on public activities, known by the Indonesian acronym PPKM, has been extended by another week to August 30.

“The government has decided to lower the Covid-19 alert level from four to three in some regions starting from August 24-30,” said President Joko Widodo in a broadcast message on Monday, August 23.

Before this, the high-level alert of Covid-19 restrictions had been extended five times since July 21 to contain the spread of Covid-19.

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Areas in Java and Bali under the category of Covid-19 level 3 restrictions will now include the Greater Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya. The number of regencies/cities under the category of level 4 restrictions now becomes 51 regencies/cities from 67 regencies/cities previously.

The number of areas under the category of Covid-19 level 3 restrictions has been increased to 67 regencies/cities from 59 regencies/cities. Meanwhile, the number of areas under the level 2 restrictions has now reached 10 regencies/cities from two regencies/cities.

Outside Java and Bali, the number of areas under the category of level 4 restrictions has now become 104 regencies/cities in seven provinces from 132 regencies/cities in 11 provinces.
Meanwhile, the areas under level 3 restrictions increased to 234 regencies/cities from 215 regencies/cities and level 2 restrictions increased to 48 regencies/cities from 39 regencies/cities.

Some adjustments have been made, including the rules for places of worship, restaurants, and malls or shopping centers.

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Places of worship are now allowed to go 25 percent or 30 percent capacity. “By looking at the improvement in several indicators, the government is making adjustments gradually,” Jokowi said.