Restrictions Relaxation, People Must Be Disciplined

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Transportation Agency officials hold posters appealing to health protocols on Jalan Sudirman, South Jakarta, on Sunday (13/9/2020).

Relaxing the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Jakarta must be followed up with strict supervision over businesses and the movement of people.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — For the second time, the transitional phase of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) is being imposed in Jakarta starting on Monday (12/10/2020). Statistical data showing that Covid-19 transmission has started slowing in the province after the full PSBB was reinstated is the reason given for easing the restrictions once again.

The daily tally of confirmed and active cases (hospitalized patients and those in self-isolation) of Covid-19 has been flattening, or stabilizing, since the strict PSBB was reimposed on 13 Sept. 2020. The last seven days has seen early indications of a decline in the daily tally confirmed cases, although the numbers still remain high.

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On the basis of this data, the Jakarta provincial administration has decided that the capital city will again ease the restrictions and reinstated the transitional PSBB. A number of restrictions are to be relaxed during this phase, such as allowing businesses sector to operate at 50 percent capacity, up from 25 percent over the past month. Dining out at restaurants is also permitted, contingent upon the strict implementation of the health protocols.

"We need to emphasize that high discipline must be maintained so that the chain of transmission can be controlled and we do not have to pull the ‘emergency brake’ again," Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said on Sunday (11/10/2020).

An Rt of 1 indicates that one infected person transmits the virus to one other person on average.

Other data that has been used in considering the reimposition of the transitional PSBB has been provided by the University of Indonesia’s public health faculty. This data shows that in early September, when the strict PSBB was reinstated, Jakarta recorded an effective reproduction number (Rt) of 1.14 for the coronavirus. The Rt has now dropped to 1.07. An Rt of 1 indicates that one infected person transmits the virus to one other person on average.

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At the end of May, when the Jakarta provincial administration decided to impose the transitional PSBB policy for the first time, the Rt was 0.99.

Along with the easing of monitoring activities, marked by the disbandment of monitoring posts from June to mid-September, cases of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 started increasing again in the capital and surrounding areas. Transmission clusters started emerging in offices and residential areas, while hospitals in the capital recorded nearly full occupancy rates.

More stringent

Statistical data should indeed be used as a reference and taken into consideration. However, experience in the field also provides important lessons. On these bases, Jakarta should continue to maintain imposition of the full PSBB and not resume the transitional PSBB.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Traders and buyers of used goods have not complied with the Covid-19 prevention protocol by not maintaining social distancing and not wearing masks when buying and selling at the Kebayoran Lama Market, Jakarta, on Sunday (11/10/2020).

"There is indeed a flattening trend, but the risk still remains high. The Jakarta provincial administration does not yet have convincing data. [The administration] should be patient and not [be hasty in] resuming the transitional PSBB. The tight [restriction] policy is still needed,” said Trubus Rahardiansyah, a public policy observer at Trisakti University.

From 26 Sept. to 9 Oct., the special capital province saw a 22 percent increase in confirmed cases of Covid-19 and a 4 percent increase in active cases.

However, the transmission curve had flattened compared to the two weeks over 29 Aug. -11 Sept. and 12-25 September.

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Community mobility during the full PSBB of the past month decreased significantly in recreational areas, parks and residential areas. Likewise, community mobility also decreased at markets, offices and factories, as well as on public transportation, but had again started increasing over the past week. In addition, the city saw a decrease in the number of clusters emerging at offices over the past week.

However, Jakarta saw an increase in cases traced to family/residential clusters. Therefore, efforts must be made to increase health protocol compliance in each individual household and the surrounding area, as well as to strengthen neighborhood units (RTs) and community unit (RWs). This will not be easy.

The aspect of enforced supervision is in the spotlight because it has not been optimal.

The decision to resume the transitional PSBB will make it more difficult for the Jakarta provincial administration to suppress an increase in confirmed cases, especially in imposing strict supervision of health protocol implementation at offices, workplaces, public spaces and households. The aspect of enforced supervision is in the spotlight because it has not been optimal.

"Once again, what I am highlighting is that the rules must be [rigidly] enforced if the transitional PSBB is to run. There is indeed a policy that mandates 50 percent [employee capacity]. But who will guarantee public compliance? What is happening with supervision?" asked Trubus.

Epidemiologist Pandu Riono from the University of Indonesia also highlighted this very issue. The provisions were the same when the first transitional PSBB was imposed, that businesses must operate at 50 percent employee capacity. However, many violations occurred and, as a result, new clusters of transmission emerged at offices.

"[This time], the 50 percent employee capacity rule at offices must be strictly obeyed," he said.

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The situation became even more high-risk when mass demonstrations erupted to protest the newly approved Job Creation Bill, which saw large gatherings that did not follow the health protocols. Trubus said that either the Jakarta provincial administration or the central government should have conducted mass swab tests and traced any with Covid-19 following the demonstrations.

"Only after that can [the administration] think about [resuming] the transitional PSBB," he said.

Test and trace

Easing the PSBB during a situation that was not ideal, as it was today, said Pandu, must be accompanied with increased testing, tracing and isolation. The public and businesses must be asked to contribute by adhering to the health protocols.

For example, according to the Yonhap news agency, the government in Seoul, South Korea, had appealed to the people in and around the Korean capital to avoid crowds and mass gatherings alongside its plans to resume social activities. Festivals, concerts and exhibitions were required to comply with a restriction on the number of visitors: 1 person per 4 square meters.

"The easing [of restrictions] will increase the risk of transmission. So [detection] must be quick so that transmission does not occur again. The public must also follow the 3M. Otherwise, some day the tight [PSBB] will be again reimposed," he said, referring to the “memakai masker, menjaga jarak dan mencuci tangan” policy of wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, and washing hands with soap.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Dukuh Atas MRT Station officers check the passenger\'s temperature, on Monday (8/6/2020).

The governor also hoped that the tight PSBB would not need to be reimposed. During the second transitional PSBB, the data must be improved on visitors and employees in those sectors that had reopened in order to facilitate epidemiological analysis, particularly on tracing the close contacts of confirmed cases. The information must cover the name, telephone numbers and personal identification number of the contact.

The Jakarta provincial administration would trace any widespread transmission of Covid-19. The testing, isolating and treatment capacity of the city’s hospitals were also being improved.

Commenting on the transitional PSBB, Sarman Simanjorang, the Jakarta chairman of the Indigenous Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (HIPPI), welcomed the move to ease the restrictions with optimism.

"At least the Jakarta economy is starting to see new hope, because even though it is still restricted to 50 percent capacity, the service [sector] like hotels, restaurants, cafes and restaurants can operate again. This optimism, of course, [comes] with the hope that the tighter PSBB does not return," he said.

For businesses, the transitional PSBB was a gamble, so they hoped that Covid-19 transmission would not increase.

Sarman also expressed the hope that the government would not be careless about monitoring, public awareness and taking firm action, including regular inspections. For businesses, the transitional PSBB was a gamble, so they hoped that Covid-19 transmission would not increase.

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According to Sarman, the financial state of businesses was growing increasingly worrisome. Their incomes were not sufficient to cover monthly costs. If the tight PSBB was prolonged, many entrepreneurs could fold their businesses and unemployment could increase.

"Businesspeople hope that the Christmas to New Year [holiday season] would boost purchasing power or household consumption and contribute so that economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2020 will move in a positive direction," he said. (GIO/SAM/VAN)