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ast Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has decided to extend large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Greater Surabaya for another 14 days to May 25, vowing to enforce the rules with a repressive approach if necessary.

Greater Surabaya consists of Surabaya and satellite regencies Sidoarjo and Gresik.

“Obedience and discipline are key factor in the success of the PSBB policy and curbing the spread of COVID-19,” she told reporters on Saturday after meeting with Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini, Sidoarjo acting regent Nur Ahmad Saifuddin and Gresik Deputy Regent Mohammad Qosim, who agreed on the extension.

Khofifah said her administration would severely punish those caught violating health protocols during the pandemic, including wearing face masks and social distancing. Separately, epidemiologist Windhu Purnomo from Airlangga University’s School of Public Health said on Friday that PSBB measures in Greater Surabaya had failed to flatten the COVID-19 curve as residents lacked discipline in following health protocols.

“We have seen a fake PSBB in Surabaya. We call it fake because we can barely see a difference between daily life in Surabaya before and after the PSBB was put into effect,” he said.

Windhu, who leads a team of experts tasked with measuring the PSBB’s effectiveness in flattening the curve, added that recent research showed the novel coronavirus infection period lasted more than 14 days.

“The virus becomes infectious a few days before the symptoms show up and stays a few days after the symptoms disappear. Experts have concluded that the virus’ infectious period is between 21 and 25 days,” he said, adding that a 14-day PSBB was not enough.

As of Monday, on the 14th day of Surabaya’s first PSBB phase that began on April 28, Greater Surabaya has recorded 966 confirmed cases of COVID-19, accounting for 62.9 percent of the province’s 1,534 confirmed cases.

Surabaya administration secretary Hendro Gunawan said the administration would intensify security patrols in the city to make sure that people adhered to health protocols.

He said a night curfew would be strictly enforced and physical-distancing rules implemented at all markets.

Nur Ahmad said the administration agreed to extend the PSBB policy as COVID-19 had continued to spread in the three areas, especially Surabaya and Sidoarjo, which made them the hardest and second-hardest hit regions in the province.

“We hope that we can curb the virus’ spread by the end of the extended PSBB period so that we won’t have to extend it again," the Sidoarjo acting regent said.

Meanwhile, the East Java administration approved on Saturday Greater Malang’s plan to impose PSBB measures. Greater Malang consists of Malang city, Batu city and Malang regency.

“We have seen the detailed plans of Greater Malang’s PSBB policy. We will send a letter to the Health Ministry shortly to ask for a permit for Greater Malang’s PSBB,” Khofifah said.

Based on three indicators — infection rate, the emergence of local transmission and the fatality rate — measured by epidemiologists, Greater Malang was eligible for the PSBB, she said.

“Greater Malang has scored a 10 in a one-to-10 scale measured by a team of epidemiologists,” Khofifah said.

With a population of less than 1 million, Malang city, located around 100 kilometers to the south of Surabaya, is one of the first regions in the country to impose PSBB measures as a response to the emergence of COVID-19 infections in early March.

Malang Mayor Sutiaji even announced a lockdown policy on March 16, which he annulled a day later.

On Saturday, Sutiaji welcomed the agreement among Greater Malang administrations, as well as the governor’s approval to submit a PSBB proposal to the Health Ministry.

“It is our second PSBB proposal, but this time, we’re proposing it along with Batu city and Malang regency,” Sutiaji said.

As of Monday, there were 77 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Greater Malang, 25 of which were in Malang city. Malang regency, with a population of around 2.5 million has seen 47 cases.

Batu city, with fewer than 250,000 residents, has seen five confirmed cases.

Batu Mayor Dewanti Rumpoko said the city agreed to impose PSBB rules together with Malang regency and Malang city given their proximity, despite the city’s low number of cases. (nkn)