Based on the evaluation, President (Joko Widodo) ordered the extension of restriction on the movement of people (for another two weeks) from January 26 to February 8.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has decided to extend restrictions on the movement of people in Java and Bali for another fortnight from January 26 to February 8.

The government reached the decision during a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace on Thursday after evaluating the first phase of such restrictions that took effect on January 11-25.

"Based on the evaluation, President (Joko Widodo) ordered the extension of restriction on the movement of people (for another two weeks) from January 26 to February 8," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto noted during a virtual press conference here on Thursday.

To this end, the home affairs minister will issue an instruction to governors in Java and Bali that are expected to evaluate the restrictions on the basis of specified parameters to decide whether they are still necessary in their respective provinces, Hartarto explained.

In connection with restrictions on the movement of people this time, malls and restaurants are allowed to operate until 8 p.m. local time rather than 7 p.m. local time earlier.

"There is a change in (operating hours of) malls and restaurants. In the earlier restrictions, they were allowed to operate until 7 p.m. local time. Since the (COVID-19 caseload in) several regions remain rather flat, they are allowed to operate until 8 p.m. local time," he stated.

Restrictions on the activities of people in other sectors remain unchanged. The number of employees working from home must account for 75 percent of the total personnel, the number of dine-in visitors at restaurants must be at most 25 percent of the seating capacity, and the number of worshipers at places of worship must at the most be 50 percent of the capacity.

The government has imposed restrictions on the movement of people on January 11-25, especially in Java and Bali, to counter an exponential rise in the number of new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection.
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