The newest protocol is largely unaligned with experts’ calls, who have previously urged that the government tighten restrictions lest it enables one of the primary aggravating factors contributing to the recent COVID-19 trend.

The two-week-long PPKM extension will mostly affect restaurants and cafes, which will face “slight adjustments” to their operating hours as well as tighter surveillance, the ministry’s release said. With the widespread fanfare brought by the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, public viewing parties will still be allowed, under the condition that all attendees check in with the national health-surveillance application PeduliLindungi. 

“This most-recent PPKM was enforced coinciding with the World Cup. Seeing the massive scale of euphoria, the government has decided to enforce some rules on [public] viewing parties,” said Safrizal, the ministry’s director general of territorial administration development.

In efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, the ministry had also suggested that restaurants and cafes hold their viewing parties in well-ventilated areas with air filters.

While the minor adjustments would tighten public social activities, the extension would grant offices more freedom as the 75-percent maximum-capacity rule was scratched. Starting on Tuesday, businesses across Java and Bali can start fully operating from their offices, though preventative protocols like mask-wearing remain mandatory.

The number of new daily confirmed cases nationwide had gradually risen since the beginning of November, reaching a high of nearly 8,500 cases and 54 deaths as of Nov. 16.

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