We hope, if possible, public mobility would decline by 50 percent.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A 50-percent reduction in public mobility during the enforcement of emergency public activities restrictions (PKPM) will flatten the COVID-19 curve in the subsequent week, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated.

"We are optimistic that, if possible, public mobility would decline by 50 percent. I think this week or by next week, we can see the flattening curve, and it would gradually decline further," Pandjaitan noted during a virtual press conference here on Tuesday that was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube account.

The minister deemed it necessary to reduce mobility by 50 percent to stem the spread of the Delta variant, a strain of COVID-19 believed to be more transmissible and dangerous than others.

"Now, we saw it (the decline) at 26 to 27 percent. We hope this week we can reach close to 50 percent," he stated.

The government has formulated a method to monitor the implementation of emergency PPKM through the mobility index and night lights.

"The mobility index during emergency PPKM will be compared with the baseline period from May 24 to June 6. Thus, we can get more accurate data," Pandjaitan remarked.

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The minister noted that Jakarta had recorded a decline in public mobility. Coordination between the central government and the Jakarta administration has run well.

However, the declining mobility had yet to match up to expectations.

"It is still below our expectations. Bali and East Java recorded less decline, and we will encourage them to continue (the restriction). It is just the third day (of emergency PPKM)," Pandjaitan stated.

The government has imposed emergency PPKM for Java and Bali during the period from July 3 to July 21 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The emergency restrictions is a decisive step taken in light of the surge in positive cases over the past week as well as the bed occupancy rates that have exceeded exponentially since the last spike in cases.

The emergency PPKM will be applied in all districts and cities in the Java and Bali islands and are included in the COVID-19 control indicators within the area.

Moreover, in accordance with the president directive, this policy is in tune with recent COVID-19 developments, especially the newer variants that have surfaced in several countries.


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