The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and also the Head of Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC PEN), Airlangga Hartarto. (Image via Merdeka)

Indonesian Government extends PPKM to 8 February

Newswriter English 1
Politics & Economic
News Flash Indonesia
Jan 21, 2021
1194

The Indonesian Government officially extended the enforcement of public activity restrictions (PPKM) for two weeks, starting 25 January to 8 February 2021, as the weekly novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in 52 cities are still increasing and the mortality rate is still increasing in 44 cities.

Speaking on Thursday at an online press conference through the official YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and also the Head of Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC PEN), Airlangga Hartarto, stated that the extension came after the evaluation of PPKM since 11 January ago.

The decision taken by the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, will be delivered immediately to the head of regions. He also hopes that they will increase their efforts to suppress the COVID-19 cases.

Airlangga also stated that there are some changes. The department stores are allowed to open until 8 p.m local time. Meanwhile, the other regulations remain such as 75 percent of working from home (WFH), studying from home (SFH), religious ceremony only for 50 percent of its maximum capacity, and transportation restrictions.

Speaking on Wednesday, the Chief of Staff of Presidency, Moeldoko, also stated that the PPKM throughout Java and Bali will be extended as many people are still ignoring the health protocols against the COVID-19 pandemic. And, the regulations will be tightened and be extended if they remain even until 8 February.

Entering the 10th day of its enforcement since 11 January, the number of COVID-19 positive cases are still rocketing. Before the PPKM ran into effect, there were 84,828 COVID-19 cases on 1 - 10 January 2021. Strangely, as the PPKM is enforced, the positive cases went up instead. From 11 January to 20 January, there have been 111,922 positive cases with an average of 11,192 cases daily.

Source: https://bit.ly/3p4PAj9