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No odd-even policy as restrictions extended
The Jakarta administration has extended the transitional period of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for another 14 days starting Monday until Nov. 22, as efforts to slow the spread of COV- ID-19 in the capital continue.
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he Jakarta administration has extended the transitional period of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for another 14 days start- ing Monday until Nov. 22, as efforts to slow the spread of COV- ID-19 in the capital continue.
The city claimed COVID-19 transmission had declined 55 percent within the last 14 days. It recorded 12,481 new active cases on Oct. 24, but the number dropped to 8,026 cases on Nov. 7.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the administration would only pull the emergency brake by reimposing the full- fledged PSBB if the city saw a surge in COVID-19 infections so significant that it could cripple the healthcare system.
The capital previously returned to full PSBB on Sept. 14 after health authorities recorded a surge in new active COVID-19 cases.
The Jakarta administration relaxed the restrictions on Oct. 12 despite tallying more than 1,000 new confirmed cases daily. Anies claimed epidemiologists’ data had shown that the transitional PSBB had helped Jakarta control the outbreak.
“However, we need to stay alert. Don’t let the improving situation catch us off guard. Although it has slowed down, the transmission is still happening,” Anies said on Sunday, urging Jakartans to adhere to strict health protocols. According to the pro- vincial administration, the bed occupancy rate among COVID -19 referral hospitals had declined from 66 percent on Oct. 10 to 56 percent on Nov. 7.
Data from the University of Indonesia’s School of Public Health show that the current rate of pub- lic adherence to social distancing and mask-wearing stands at 60 percent and 70 percent, respectively.
The study suggests that a minimum 80 percent rate is necessary for the capital to further curb transmission. On Sunday, Jakarta recorded 826 new confirmed cases, bringing the total tally to 112,027.
Amid the extension, the Jakarta Police would also continue lifting the odd-even policy, said the Jakarta Police’s traffic director, Sr. Comr. Sambodo Purnomo Yogo, as reported by kompas.com.
The lifting means that the po- lice will not issue tickets for odd- even policy violations.
The decision to lift the odd- even policy is aimed at encourag- ing people to travel in their own
vehicles to avoid possible new COVID -19 clusters from public transportation.
Previously, a September na- tional survey revealed that most residents wanted PSBB, imposed to curb COVID-19 transmission, to end so the economy could be resumed.
The survey, conducted by pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia, on COVID-19 mitigation related to economic interests and health, held from Sept 24 involving 30 to 1,200 respondents in each of the 34 provinces, showed that 55 per- cent of respondents wanted PSBB policy to be lifted to support the economy.
Meanwhile, 39 percent of re- spondents wanted PSBB to continue to tackle coronavirus trans- mission, the pollster’s executive director, Burhanuddin Muhtadi, said. (trn)
