Ensure the Result of Social Restrictions

The implementation of mobility and social restrictions from 11 to 25 January are expected to curb COVID-19 transmission in Indonesia. The country also has to improve its testing, tracing and regional isolation.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

Jambi Regional Police are on guard at the location of the Covid-19 vaccine distribution upon arrival in Jambi City, Monday (4/1/2021) afternoon. A total of 20,000 doses of vaccine will be distributed to health workers in Jambi.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The central government is pushing to impose mobility and social restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus. According to the government’s plan, the restrictions will be imposed from 11 to 25 January.

The mobility restrictions, which will be imposed in Java and Bali, put the province and city/municipality administrations at the forefront of the country’s pandemic response. The enforcement of the mobility restrictions depend on the assertiveness of authorities in each region.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, during a meeting to discuss the country’s pandemic response and vaccination plan at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (6/1/2021), said that restriction on public activities or the reinforcement of stricter large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) were necessary to prevent an increase in COVID-19 transmission. The implementation of stricter social restrictions will be carried out in regions with worsening conditions.

Also read: There is no Tolerance for Reopening Schools

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said from the Presidential Office in Jakarta that the government had set particular criteria for regions that would have to impose stricter activity restrictions, which are a fatality rate above the national average, a recovery rate below the national average, active cases above the national average, as well as isolation and ICU facilities filling above 70 percent.

According to Airlangga, regencies or cities that meet one of the four established criteria – a fatality rate above the national average of 3 percent, a recovery rate below the national average of 82 percent, active cases above the national average of 14 percent as well as isolation and ICU facilities filling above 70 percent – must impose the restrictions.

Also read: New Cases Still High, Local Administration Cautious

All provinces in Java and Bali have met one of the four established parameters. The central government, therefore, is urging regions and cities on the two islands that meet one of the four established parameters to tighten their restrictions.

SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto delivered a statement after a closed meeting to discuss the handling of Covid-19 and the vaccination plan at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (6/1/2021).

Airlangga explained that considering the restrictions would be carried out at a regional level, governors would determine the regencies or cities that must tighten their restrictions. Based on data from the central government, tighter restrictions must be carried out in all areas in Jakarta. In Banten, the restrictions will be imposed in Tangerang regency as well as the municipalities of Tangerang and South Tangerang.

In West Java, apart from the regencies of Bogor and Bekasi as well as the cities of Bogor, Bekasi and Depok, which directly borders Jakarta, the restrictions will also be imposed in Bandung and the regencies of West Bandung and Cimahi.

Also read: Local Governments Accelerate Preparation for Vaccination Officers

In Central Java, the restrictions will be imposed in Greater Semarang, Greater Surakarta and Greater Banyumas. In Yogyakarta, the restrictions will be imposed in Sleman, Gunung Kidul and Kulon Progo regencies. The central government has also ordered a restriction in Greater Surabaya and Greater Malang in East Java as well as in Denpasar and Badung regency in Bali. “The government is pushing for restrictions from 11 to 25 January,” Airlangga said.

Only 25 percent of workers allowed in workplace

The measures will include a halt on public activities. Shopping centers may only be open until 7 p.m., whereas only 25 percent of employees are allowed to work from the office.

The measures will also prohibit schools from conducting face-to-face instruction. Furthermore, restaurants can only serve dine-in customers at 25 percent capacity. Places of worship can only be filled at a maximum 50 percent capacity. Social and cultural activities as well as activities held in public facilities will also be stopped.

Also read: Regional Administrations Await Technical Instructions from Central Govt

Iqbal Elyazar, an epidemiologist with Indonesian volunteer group Lapor COVID-19, said that this time, the mobility and social restrictions would succeed in curbing COVID-19 transmission if people stayed home as well as if mobility restrictions within and between cities and the use of face masks were optimized.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Mayor of Bogor Bima Arya Sugiarto met with representatives of a national private bank branch office in the Ciheuleut area, Bogor City, West Java, which was operating but was deemed to have violated Covid 19 countermeasures procedures, Thursday (3/12/2020). The bank was forcibly closed by the Bogor City Government.

Iqbal asked the government to evaluate the source of COVID-19 transmission. “People who violate health protocols and [COVID-19 transmission] clusters are dominated by government officials and offices. If you [government officials] asked people to be disciplined, you have to start with yourself,” he said.

According to Iqbal, each regency and city must be given a minimum testing target according to their population and level of transmission. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, each region has to at least test 1 person out of its 1,000 population per week. Iqbal added that it was time to sanction regional leaders who fabricated the region’s testing data.

If you [government officials] asked people to be disciplined, you have to start with yourself

“PSBB trap”

Dicky Budiman, an Indonesian epidemiologist at Griffith University in Australia, said Indonesia would get caught in a “PSBB trap” should there be no concrete measures in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures, according to Dicky, were testing, tracing and isolation to prevent increasing COVID-19 transmission.

“This PSBB should be an opportunity to curb COVID-19 transmission through testing, tracing and isolation. At least 80 percent of close contacts have to be traced and followed up,” he said.

Also read: Wear a Face Mask, Do Tracing

Apart its quantity, the scope of testing must also be taken into account. Currently, most of the testing is carried out in Jakarta. Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan has expressed his support and gratefulness that the PSBB would be imposed throughout the region. “Jakarta will impose the PSBB as it did when we pulled the emergency brake in September,” he said.

Likewise, the East Java government has also shown support for the implementation of the restrictions. East Java deputy governor Emil Elestianto Dardak said he was waiting for a circular from the central government to impose the restrictions.

RIZAL/HUMAS PEMPROV JABAR

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil visits a warehouse for Covid-19 vaccines in Bandung, Wednesday (6/1/2021)

Meanwhile, Malang mayor Sutiaji was waiting for directions from East Java’s governor. He said the restrictions would not be effective if it was only imposed in his city.

Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo said the restrictions were imposed to reduce crowds.

The West Java government, according to governor Ridwan Kamil, will implement the work from home policy in Greater Bandung, Bogor, Depok and Bekasi.

Yogyakarta, too, is ready to follow the central government’s instruction. According to Yogyakarta regional secretary Kadarmanta Baskara Aji, his party will discuss the types of restrictions with regents and mayors in the province.

We hope the government anticipates this by controlling the spread [of the virus,

Indonesian Textile Association secretary general Rizal T. Rakhman said most textile industry players had tried to raise awareness among their employees in dealing with the pandemic. They prohibited workers from gathering in the workplace, including the cafeteria, while also mandating the use of face masks. Some industry players have even provided vitamins and supplements for their employees.

Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani deemed the implementation of health protocols in the business and industrial field as relatively under control. However, he admitted that the risk of transmission among employees in public places remained a challenge. “We hope the government anticipates this by controlling the spread [of the virus],” he said.

This article was translated by Camilia Adianti.