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West Java leaders to solicit PSBB status to strengthen fight against COVID-19
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A resident takes a food package offered by Dwi Fitria Ambarina in Cimahi, West Java, on Wednesday. Dwi hung more than a dozen bags of food on the gate of her home to help neighbors affected by COVID-19. (Antara/Novrian Arbi)
S
eventeen regents and mayors in West Java who had not previously proposed large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) have agreed to apply for the status in the province to combat the spread of COVID-19.
“We will propose PSBB in the West Java province to accelerate the implementation [of protective measures] in each region,” Daud Achmad, the secretary of the West Java COVID-19 task force, said on Thursday.
West Java has, so far, only implemented PSBB at the city and regency levels. The satellite cities of Jakarta that lie within the region – Bogor, Depok and Bekasi – implemented PSBB on April 15 followed by the Greater Bandung area – consisting of the cities of Bandung and Cimahi, as well as as the regencies of Bandung, West Bandung and Sumedang – on April 22.
Ten out of the 27 regencies and municipalities in Indonesia's most populous province have implemented PSBB.
"If the health minister Terawan Putranto approves the request, the remaining regents and mayors [who have not implemented PSBB] will have a legal basis to implement social restrictions in their regions without having to individually request PSBB," Daud said.
He explained that each regent and mayor had the freedom to implement PSBB fully or partially.
"Bogor regency and Greater Bandung for example, have implemented PSBB partially in several districts," he said.
Daud added that PSBB needed to be imposed in West Java because it had recorded 1,009 cases as of Thursday, making it the second-hardest-hit province in the country.
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said that the province would implement PSBB on May 6 if the request was approved this weekend.
"I advise Bapak and Ibu regents and mayors to start informing the public about PSBB preparations in their regions through social media so residents can prepare themselves," Ridwan said.
Herdiat Sunaya, the regent of Ciamis, said the implementation of PSBB in West Java should be followed by stricter rules to discourage the Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) in each region.
"We need to be aware of people who are participating in mudik, especially those coming from red zones. We need to impose stricter rules on those travelers," he said.
Majalengka regent Karna Sobahi said many of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the regency were imported. (nal)
