Indonesia’s Java, Bali No Longer Deemed Covid-19 Red Zone Today

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – After facing a surge in coronavirus cases two months ago, Indonesia’s Java and Bali areas have no longer been declared Covid-19 red zone or a high risk of Covid-19 transmission, Kompas.com learned.

Based on the Covid-19 hazard zonation map issued by the national task force, areas in Java and Bali are dominated by a low-moderate risk of Covid-19, or known as the yellow zone as of September 12.

The only area in the country that has the status of Covid-19 red zone is Banda Aceh on the northern tip of Indonesia’s Sumatra island. Even so, the number of red zone areas in Banda Aceh has also decreased.

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The map also shows that Indonesia is currently dominated by the yellow zone and the orange zone. Last week, the number of yellow zones was recorded at 327 regencies or cities. But it has increased to 423 regencies or cities now. Meanwhile, the orange zone now comprises 89 areas compared to 181 regencies or cities previously, showing the improvement in the handling of the coronavirus in the country. However, the data is not final as the number of cases could still increase in the future, depending on the conditions of the pandemic and the handling of Covid-19 in Indonesia.

The government has been extending the Covid-19 restrictions on public activities in Java and Bali to stem the transmission of the virus.

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

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.

As of September 15, the number of Covid-19 cases reached more than four million since the first two cases were announced in March last year. Meanwhile, 3.9 million people have recovered and over 139,000 died from the Covid-19. Currently, the government recorded 84,963 active cases.

(Writer: Wahyuni Sahara | Editor: Bayu Galih)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/09/16/12010271/jawa-dan-bali-kini-bebas-zona-merah-covid-19?page=all#page2.