By: Raditya Rahman)*
The government is trying to implement the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) ahead of Christmas and New Year (Nataru). This step is an effective effort to prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases at the end of the year.
If you look at previous experiences, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has increased during the holiday period. This, of course, is our collective vigilance so that we don’t be careless in implementing health protocols.
The government will implement the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in accordance with the Assessment for all regions of Indonesia during the 2021 Christmas holidays and the 2022 new year in order to reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy said the policy was taken in order to tighten community movements to prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases. This is because the Christmas-New Year holidays are predicted to increase people’s mobility.
The implementation of PPKM according to the assessment during the Christmas and New Year holidays is very important. The reason is, the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia is not over yet. Therefore, tightening is needed for mutual safety and to maintain the consistency of the Covid-19 situation which has improved.
He revealed, broadly speaking, there are no special rules in the application of PPKM rules for the end of the year. Even though there is no isolation, people are still advised not to travel except in order to meet their primary needs and there is still a tightening of rules.
The government decided not to implement PPKM level 3 in the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) periods simultaneously in all regions. The implementation of PPKM during Nataru will continue to follow the assessment of the pandemic situation in accordance with what is currently in effect, but with some tightening. The decision was taken because it was based on the achievement of dose 1 vaccination in Java-Bali which had reached 76% and dose 2 which was close to 56%.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, has urged local governments to reactivate the Covid-19 Handling Task Force in every province, district/city, sub-district, village, down to the level of community units (RW) and neighborhood units (RT). Where everyone who wants to enter a certain area must report to the regional administrator. The Covid-19 task force in every line must also remind the public to remain disciplined in implementing health protocols.
The 5M health protocols start from wearing masks, washing hands with water or hand sanitizer, maintaining distance, reducing mobility and avoiding crowds. Health workers must also apply 3T or Testing, Tracing and Treatment to the public, especially those who are confirmed positive for Covid-19. Also efforts to expand the coverage of Covid-19 vaccinations.
Regarding the implementation of health protocols during Christmas celebrations, the government requires church officials and Christmas celebration places to prepare all the necessary facilities. Likewise in shopping centers, tourist destinations, potential crowd points.
For teaching and learning activities, the government again implements distance learning and distribution of report cards at the beginning of the even semester in January 2022. Teachers and students study online and only have holidays on weekends, on Christmas Day, and the new year on January 1, 2022.
If there is a celebration such as a wedding, the committee or the host must continue to apply strict health protocols. Cultural arts and sports activities will be cancelled during the period from December 24, 2021 to January 2, 2022. This is because the government will close all squares on New Year’s Eve celebrations to prevent crowds.
Meanwhile, for people who want to celebrate Christmas at the church, the government emphasizes that Christmas celebrations can be carried out in a simple way, emphasizing fellowship among families.
Before entering the church, the congregation needs to check the temperature at the entrance for all church users. In addition, the congregation is also required to use the PeduliLindung application when entering and exiting the church and only those with the green and yellow categories are allowed to enter.
PPKM according to Assessment should have been implemented. Because the transmission of Covid-19 can occur at any time without knowing the region. We need to know that the trend of increasing Covid-19 cases usually occurs 2-3 weeks after peak mobility occurs.
PPKM according to Assessment is a form of vigilance against the possibility of an increase in cases. This is taken so that Indonesia does not experience a third wave of pandemics and realizes an Indonesia that is free from the Corona virus.
)* The author is a contributor to the Press Circle and Cikini Students
