Based on data, the trend (of COVID-19 cases) is declining. If it is really declining, I think it (lifting PPKM) can be considered
Purwokerto, Central Java (ANTARA) - Field epidemiologist from Jenderal Soedirman University Yudhi Wibowo voiced support for the government's plan to lift public activity restrictions (PPKM) in line with the declining number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

"Based on data, the trend (of COVID-19 cases) is declining. If it is really declining, I think it (lifting PPKM) can be considered," Wibowo noted here on Monday.

Nevertheless, after the PPKM is lifted, the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination, especially the third dose or booster dose, should be increased to at least reach 80-percent coverage, he remarked.

According to the epidemiologist, vaccination is essential since it has been proved that during the previous spike in COVID-19 cases, the death toll and number of inpatients were lower as compared to before.


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He noted that the plan to lift PPKM is still being studied by the Ministry of Health along with epidemiologists.

"Personally, I am okay with it (PPKM being lifted)," he stated.

When questioned about the potential surge in COVID-19 cases after the PPKM is lifted, he assessed that the government can immediately take control measures.

The government can also reimplement public activity restrictions if a surge in cases occurs, he remarked.

Related news: Gov 't decides PPKM termination by gauging impact of year-end holidays

Earlier, President Jokowi stated at the 2023 Indonesia Economic Outlook in Jakarta on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, that the government would possibly declare the discontinuation of PPKM implementation at the end of 2022.

"Yesterday, ( December 20, 2022), our (additional) daily cases were at around 1,200, and maybe, at the end of the year, we will end our PPKM," he remarked.

He noted that according to the latest data, the decreasing trend of daily additional COVID-19 cases had still continued.

The number of additional cases on December 20, 2022, showed a drastic fall as compared to the peak period of the COVID-19 case surge due to the Omicron variant for which the number of cases had reached 64 thousand.


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Translator: Sumarwoto, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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