The government canceled the decision to implement PPKM Level 3 in the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) period evenly in all regions in Indonesia. Thus, the implementation of the PPKM level during Nataru will continue to follow the assessment of the pandemic situation as currently applies for each region.
“Travel conditions will continue to be tightened, especially at the border for passengers from abroad. However, the PPKM policy during the Nataru period will be made more balanced with continued testing and tracing activities,” said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in a statement. written in Jakarta, Monday (6/12).
He also ensured that Indonesia’s borders would still be tightened with conditions for passengers from abroad, namely a negative PCR test result in a maximum of 2×24 hours before departure and quarantine for 10 days in Indonesia. Luhut said the government decided to make a more balanced policy by not treating all regions equally before the Nataru moment.
This is also due to the strengthening of 3T (testing, tracing, and treatment) and vaccination achievements in the past month. “The achievement of dose one vaccination in Java-Bali has reached 76 percent and dose two is approaching 56 percent. Vaccination for the elderly continues to be boosted until now, reaching 64 and 42 percent for doses one and two in Java and Bali,” said Luhut.
In comparison, no Indonesians were vaccinated in the Nataru period last year. The results of the serosurvey also show that the Indonesian people already have high levels of Covid-19 antibodies. This serosurvey shows people who have specific antibodies against Covid-19.
During Nataru, domestic long-distance travel conditions are mandatory for complete vaccination and negative antigen results in a maximum of 1×24 hours before departure. For adults who have not been fully vaccinated or cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are not allowed to travel long distances.
Children can also travel, but on condition that PCR is valid for 3×24 hours for air travel or 1×24 hour antigen for land or sea travel. The government has also implemented a ban on all types of New Year’s celebrations in hotels, shopping centers, malls, tourist attractions, and other public crowded places.
Meanwhile, the operation of shopping centers, restaurants, cinemas, and tourist attractions is only allowed with a maximum capacity of 75 percent and only for people with the green category in the PeduliLindung application. “As for social and cultural events, the maximum number of people allowed is 50 people. The discipline of using Care to Protect must be enforced,” said the Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator.
The changes in detail will be stated in the revision of the Minister of Home Affairs and other circulars related to Nataru. Apart from that, Luhut added, President Jokowi gave directions to accelerate the implementation of childhood vaccinations. This step was taken to provide protection for children, including considering the spread of the Omicron variant that mostly attacks children.
Luhut emphasized that the various steps taken by the government were based on the latest data and information developments related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Evaluation continues to be carried out regularly every week so that policies can adapt quickly, adapting to the latest developments.
In Java-Bali, currently, there are still 12 districts/cities at level 3 PPKM. “Based on the assessment as of December 4, the number of regencies/cities remaining at level 3 is only 9.4 percent of the total regencies/cities in Java-Bali or only 12 regencies/cities,” said Luhut.
The Bandung City Government (Pemkot) will remain on standby to anticipate the spread of Covid-19 ahead of the Nataru holiday. Although the implementation of PPKM Level 3, which was originally planned for December 24 to January 2, 2022, was canceled, the Mayor of Bandung Oded M Danial ensured that the ranks remained on standby to anticipate the spread of Covid-19.
“What is called a policy from the center, we just (got information) right. We studied it first but we adjusted the conditions, but the most important thing is that we are actually on standby,” he said at Bandung City Hall, Tuesday (7/12).
Regarding a number of policies that have been issued by the Bandung City Government during a limited meeting regarding the implementation of PPKM Level 3, Oded admitted that he would first conduct an evaluation. “We issued the policy yesterday, we will run it later while we look at this new policy,” he said.
Some of the Bandung City Government policies that have been issued are the prohibition of 2022 New Year celebrations in hotels, restaurants and cafes. In addition, there are capacity limitations in the business sector
