By: David Oscar )*
In early June 2021, the government officially extended the implementation of micro-scale community activity restrictions (PPKM) in order to suppress the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia. The community supports Micro PPKM throughout the Province in order to accelerate the control of the Corona virus and the recovery of the national economy.
Chairman of the Committee for Handling the Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN), Airlangga Hartarto said there was a slight change in the provisions of the micro PPKM this time. He mentioned that there are four new provinces that will participate in implementing micro PPKM. Thus, 34 provinces of Indonesia will implement micro PPKM.
He said the government’s consideration was to extend the micro PPKM because the COVID-19 pandemic in the country had not been sufficiently controlled. Even the latest data from the latest Handling Task Force or in the period 24-30 May 2021, there was a weekly cumulative addition of positive cases reaching 40,821 cases.
The latest daily data released by the Task Force on May 31, 2021 showed that there were 5,662 new Covid-19 cases added. Meanwhile, for recovered cases, there were an additional 5,121 cases and 174 new cases of death.
So that cumulatively, as many as 1,821,703 people have tested positive for the corona virus. Of these, 1,669,119 people have recovered, 102,006 have been hospitalized and self-isolated, while 50,578 have died.
On a different occasion, the Head of the Task Force for handling COVID-19, Lieutenant General Ganip Warsito, asked Task Forces in all regions to be serious in implementing the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 12 of 2021 which regulates the extension of the micro-scale PPKM.
Ganip also said that the evaluation of the implementation of the micro PPKM was carried out for the first time since January 11. He revealed that the weakness of the regional Task Force lies in its tolerance for health protocols and protocols for the arrival of residents between regions.
Please note that Ganip has been officially inaugurated as Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) by President Joko Widodo on May 25, 2021. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2020, the Head of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force is the head of the BNPB.
He also gave seven points of note for the implementation of Micro PPKM. First, the Task Forces should intensify the implementation of communication, coordination and collaboration between the central and regional Task Forces.
Second, the conclusions and recommendations from the Central Task Force regarding the development of the Covid-19 case so that they become the attention of the Regional Task Force for implementation. Third, control and control over population mobility from one area to another, as well as the arrival of foreigners and Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) need to comply with applicable regulations.
Fourth, increase vigilance by coordinating closely between ministries/agencies and related agencies, both elements of the Regional Government, TNI/Polri in the region. Especially supervising the entry and exit between regions and arrivals at airports, ports or across national borders.
Fifth, promote health protocols, quarantine protocols without tolerance. The six extensions of the micro PPKM 1-14 June 2021 will be carried out as well as possible based on the Minister of Home Affairs 12 of 2021 which has been issued and is effective from 1 June. Seventh, he asked to optimize the micro PPKM post.
He also informed that the schedule for holding weekly coordination meetings with local governments, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transportation, the TNI/Polri and several ministries/institutions related to controlling COVID-19 in each region. Meetings which are usually held virtually on Sunday afternoons from today have been changed to Mondays.
Later, after the implementation of PPKM, workplaces/offices will start implementing work from home WFH by 50 percent and work from office WFO by 50 percent.
Restrictions on operating hours for shopping centers or malls are limited to 21.00 with the implementation of stricter health protocols.
In addition, arts, social and cultural activities that can cause crowds are allowed to open a maximum of 25 percent with stricter health protocols.
While the implementation of worship in places of worship, is limited to 50% with the implementation of strict health protocols.
It should be noted that a number of regions have occupancy rates above the national average BOR. This is of course a warning that the implementation of PPKM must be supported by applying discipline to health protocols.
)* The author is a contributor to Pertiwi Institute