According to a press release on the website of The Republic of Indonesia, the government has officially revoked the policy of Imposition of Restricting Community Activities (locally referred to as PPKM) related to the COVID-19 pandemic after President Joko Widodo announced it through a press conference at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Friday, December 30 2022.
This decision was taken after considering the increasingly controlled pandemic situation and studies deep.
According to the President, the COVID-19 pandemic has been getting under control in the last few months. As of December 27, 2022, daily cases were only 1.7-cases per one million population, the weekly positivity rate was at 3.35-percent, the hospitalization rate or BOR was at 4.79-percent, and deaths were at 2.39-percent.
“These are all below the standards set by the WHO. All regencies/ cities in Indonesia currently have PPKM level 1 status where restrictions on crowds and people’s movements are at a low level,” said the President.
“After reviewing and considering these developments – we have been studying this for more than 10 months – and through considerations based on the available figures, today the government has decided to revoke the PPKM contained in the Minister of Home Affairs Instructions Number 50 and 51 of 2022 So there are no more restrictions on crowds and people’s movements,” he added.
In addition, the President explained that the revocation of PPKM was also based on the high coverage of the population’s immunity. Based on the results of a sero survey conducted by the government through the Ministry of Health, the level of public immunity was at 98.5-percent as of July 2022, an increase from 87.8-percent in December 2021.
“This means that our immunity as a community is at a very high rate and the number of vaccinations to date is 448,525,478 doses, this is also a number that is not small,” he said.
Furthermore, the President explained that Indonesia was one of the countries that had managed to control COVID-19 well and at the same time was able to maintain economic stability through the “gas and brake” policy as the key. Indonesia is also one of four G20 countries which has not experienced a pandemic wave for 10-11 consecutive months.
Even though the PPKM policy has been officially revoked, the Head of State asked all members of society and components of the nation to remain vigilant and alert. First, the President appealed to the public to increase awareness and vigilance in dealing with the risks of COVID.
“The use of masks in crowds and closed spaces must continue, awareness of vaccination must continue to be encouraged because this will help increase immunity. Communities must become more independent in preventing transmission, detecting symptoms, and seeking treatment,” he said.
Second, the President asked that government officials and institutions remain alert. Health facilities in all areas must be ready with health facilities and personnel. Ensure that the vaccination mechanism in the field continues, especially booster vaccinations.
“During this transitional period, the Central and Regional COVID-19 Task Forces are still being maintained to respond to the rapid spread. So the regional Task Force will still be there during the transition period,” he added.
The President also ensured that social assistance to the community would continue to be distributed even though the PPKM had been revoked. The social assistance that as long as PPKM is received by the community will be continued in 2023. “Assistance with vitamins and medicines will still be available at the designated health facilities, and several tax incentives and others will also continue,” he said.
Source: The President of The Republic of Indonesia website, BPMI Setpres
