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Anies hails success of PSBB measures following government’s claim rate of infection has slowed in capital
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has said there are signs the rate of COVID-19 infection is slowing in the capital, but urged all residents to remain vigilant.
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An unusually quiet road in a popular tourist area is pictured in Jakarta on March 18, as people stay home amid concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
T
he implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) by the Jakarta administration since April 10 has started to show results Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has claimed, citing central government data that show there has been a rapid and significant slowdown in new cases.
While acknowledging that authorities were still recording new cases every day, Anies said the rate of increase in new patients under surveillance (PDP) had begun flattening thanks to the social restrictions.
"We need to acknowledge that the PSBB measures have shown results, as Jakarta residents have stayed home since mid-March – even before the city officially imposed the restrictions,” Anies said on Wednesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
“Sixty percent of Jakartans are remaining within 200 meters of their homes and we have started to feel the effects.”
Read also: Greater Jakarta to expand restrictions as existing measures deemed ineffective
Jakarta, the country’s epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, imposed a 14 day period of PSSB measures on April 10. The administration recently decided to extend the restrictions until May 22.
The governor, however, urged residents to remain vigilant, saying the fight against COVID-19 was still far from over.
Health authorities recorded 133 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, a day after the government claimed the rate of infection was slowing in the capital.
"Don't assume that we have reached the peak [of the outbreak] and it will be over soon. We need to be careful. Singapore, for example, experienced a huge spike in new cases after they thought the curve had flattened,” said Anies.
The governor added that he did not know whether the slowing trend in new cases would continue and urged all parties to take all necessary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 across the city.
Jakarta had recorded 4,092 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, almost half of the nationwide total of 9,511 cases. (nal)
