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Fears linger emergency COVID-19 curbs may fall short
The government’s decision on Thursday to impose vast emergency health and mobility restrictions across Java and Bali is designed to stem the alarming surge of COVID-19 cases, but experts remain unconvinced that the policy can halt the pace of the outbreak given what some regard as the lackluster provisions.
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A pedestrian walk in front of a restaurant at Jl. Sabang in Central Jakarta on Jan. 8, 2021. The government is imposing new emergency health and mobility restrictions across Java and Bali from July 3 to 20 to stem the tide of the COVID-19 deluge. (Antara/Dhemas Reviyanto)
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he government’s move on Thursday to impose vast emergency health and mobility restrictions across Java and Bali is designed to stem the alarming surge of COVID-19 cases, but experts remain unconvinced that the policy can halt the pace of the outbreak given what some regard as the lackluster provisions.
The new policy, dubbed emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM Darurat), will come into effect from July 3–20, President Joko “Jokowi” announced during a live-streamed press event, claiming that it would be “more restrictive” compared with the previous policy.
The new measures include a work-from-home policy for all workers in nonessential sectors, full online learning for schools in affected regions, a ban on restaurant dine-in service and crowd-attracting cultural events, as well as the closure of public parks, shopping centers and places of worship.
The restrictions will be in place in 127 regencies and cities and seven provinces across Java and Bali.
Speaking in a virtual press conference hours after the President’s announcement, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said that the new policy was expected to trim the daily number of new COVID-19 cases to below 10,000 cases per day.
“What is important now is our execution,” the coordinating minister told reporters on Thursday, saying that the state would display “assertiveness in resolving the issue”.
Jokowi had previously insisted on continuing the micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro), but he finally relented after announcing on Tuesday that plans were under way to set up stricter curbs after it became apparent that the spike in infections would not subside.
