"The people must be kept in the loop about the government's evaluation, as the policy directly affects them," Maharani noted in a press statement that ANTARA received in Jakarta on Saturday.
Officially known as the "PPKM Darurat" or "emergency public activity restrictions," this partial COVID-19 lockdown is enforced in the islands of Java and Bali from July 3 to July 20.
However, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has hinted that the government will extend its enforcement until the end of July 2021.
Maharani opined that a credible evaluation of the first phase of the partial lockdown by precisely describing its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats was paramount to winning the public’s trust and ensuring compliance.
Apart from evaluating it, the government must also help the people, at large, understand about all necessary measures it would take during the enforcement of the second phase of the partial lockdown.
The government, for instance, should inform the public about the digital monitoring system in affected regions, intensify massive COVID-19 testing, increase availability of hospital beds, and boost vaccination drives.
In saving the lives of those severely impacted by this partial lockdown policy, Maharani urged the government to continue to increase the absorption of its COVID-19 response budget.
"Refocusing on the budget must be directed to save the lives of our people during this emergency situation," the minister stated, adding that the COVID-19 handling funds should be channeled for opening more emergency hospitals and telemedicine services for self-isolating patients.
Meanwhile, Minister Effendy on Friday highlighted President Joko Widodo’s decision to extend the enforcement of the "PPKM Darurat" until the end of July 2021.
The likely risks of extended enforcement potentially are related to how to balance public compliance to health protocols as mandated in the "PPKM Darurat" rules and the distribution of social assistance packages.
Effendy pointed out that the government cannot handle all social assistance packages alone. Instead, such tasks should be fulfilled by upholding the spirit of "gotong royong," or mutual cooperation, with other agencies and stakeholders in communities.
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Translator: M.Zulfikar, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
