The duty of the state and government, based on the Constitution, is to protect the people, including from the dangers of COVID-19 and to prosper them. If the government thinks that PPKM should be continued, please continueJakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of Muhammadiyah Anwar Abbas has expressed support for President Joko Widodo's decision to extend the public activity restrictions (PPKM) until July 25, 2021.
"The duty of the state and government, based on the Constitution, is to protect the people, including from the dangers of COVID-19 and to prosper them. If the government thinks that PPKM should be continued, please continue," Abbas said in a written statement released here on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Widodo had announced the PPKM would continue until July 25, and would be gradually rolled back starting July 26, 2021.
According to the President, PPKM has been extended to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and reduce the number of people seeking treatment in hospitals.
As the government has decided to extend restrictions to reduce mobility, the community must be provided assistance as soon as possible so that their essential needs are met, he said.
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"The government must help the people's economy with direct cash assistance (BLT) as soon as possible so that they can meet their daily needs," he stated.
If COVID-19 cases fall and the government relaxes the PPKM policy, the community must continue to strengthen the application of health protocols, he added.
This is because the easiest and cheapest way to avoid the risk of transmission is to avoid crowds, reduce mobility, wear masks, and wash hands regularly, he explained.
"But, if the government will not continue or will loosen the PPKM, the community is really asked and demanded to respect the existing health protocols," Widodo said.
He urged the security forces to educate people at markets, stations, and other venues.
He also said he had asked security forces to warn people found violating the rules.
"This is to regulate and discipline the community so as not to violate the health protocol. The presence of the apparatus is clearly very necessary," Widodo averred.
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Indonesia on Tuesday added 38,325 confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally so far to 2,959,058 cases, according to the task force for COVID-19 handling.
With 29,791 daily recoveries, the total number of people recovering from the infection touched 2,323,666. Meanwhile, 1,280 people succumbed to the virus in a single day, bringing the death toll since the start of the pandemic in Indonesia on March 2, 2020 to 76,200.
The number of suspected cases was recorded at 267,333, with 179,275 specimens tested by laboratories, while active cases increased by 7,254, bringing the total to 550,192.
West Java province contributed the highest number of daily cases at 6,928, followed by Jakarta (6,213), and East Java (5,654).
Jakarta recorded the highest number of recoveries at 12,071, followed by Central Java (4,218), and Yogyakarta (1,150).
Central Java recorded the most deaths at 303, followed by Jakarta and East Java, each of which recorded 268 fatalities.
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Translator: Asep F, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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