"PPKM Level 1 applies mobility easing but still prioritizes health protocols," Head of the Health Support Sub-Section for the Emergency Division of the COVID-19 Task Force Alexander K. Ginting noted in Jakarta, Friday.
Ginting remarked that COVID-19 infection cases in the community at this time were largely still caused by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
According to the Health Ministry's data as of Thursday, September 22, the daily addition of COVID-19 cases reached 2,162, with the highest cases recorded in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, the number of recovered cases increased by 4,051, with the number of deaths reaching 18, and the highest mortality being recorded in Central Java.
The latest PPKM extension regulations are stipulated in Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 42 of 2022 for Java-Bali and Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 43 of 2022 for Outside Java-Bali that is valid until October 3, 2022.
The decision to extend PPKM is based on inputs from experts that all regions in Indonesia have PPKM Level 1 status by considering that the positive rate for COVID-19 is still above the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, which is five percent of the population.
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Ginting noted that PPKM still necessitated people to have taken the first booster dose vaccination to prevent potential imported cases from arising due to people's travel activities.
"It is true that vaccination doses one and two in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) are already above 70 percent, and booster vaccination is above 50 percent. However, immunity to COVID-19 decreases over time," he stated.
Thus, regulations for domestic and foreign travelers must be applied based on the third vaccination or booster vaccine, Ginting stated.
He also reminded the public to always wear masks on the streets, in office, and at public spaces.
"Those who experience symptoms of cough, flu, fever, sore throat, and headache should not go anywhere and just stay at home," he emphasized.
Ginting highlighted that vulnerable and comorbid groups of people must also remain vigilant and immediately take the booster vaccination.
Data from the COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard of the Ministry of Health as of Thursday, September 22, showed that the coverage of booster vaccination for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, is only around 6.66 million people out of a total target of 21.55 million.
Meanwhile, members of the vulnerable group and the general public that had received the booster vaccine totaled 43.81 million people out of the 141.21-million target population.
"All officers in public areas, offices, factories, schools, markets, malls, and places of worship must serve as task forces to remind and support each other, especially for the use of the PeduliLindungi application," Ginting stated.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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