Enforcement of the activity restrictions can be resumed (in the future) if there is a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian issued the Instruction of Home Affairs Minister (Inmendagri) Number 53 of 2022 regarding the Termination of Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

"The implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) is declared over since the signing of this Instruction of Home Affairs Minister," the minister noted as stated in the Inmendagri.

The instruction was issued on account of the controlled situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, high level of immunity in the community, better health capacity readiness, and fast economic recovery.

However, the minister reminded regional heads that halting the implementation of PPKM did not mean that the COVID-19 pandemic had ended since the World Health Organization (WHO) had yet to declare the pandemic as over.

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Hence, he urged the regional heads to manage this pandemic-to-endemic transition period by implementing a proactive, persuasive, focused, and coordinated strategy to curb transmission of the virus and prevent a spike in cases.

Governors, district heads, and mayors are also directed to conduct strict supervision and to control the transmission of COVID-19 in their respective regions

As chiefs of the local Task Force for COVID-19 handling, they are also urged to maintain coordination with the military, police, prosecutors, and other related agencies to keep the regional task force active.

The Inmendagri also stipulated that during this transmission period, regional heads can issue crowd permit recommendations for any community activity very selectively while continuing to implement strict health protocols.

However, they are instructed to revoke regulations issued by them that contain sanctions for violators of PPKM provisions.

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The local governments must also ensure the availability of regional budget (APBD) to be allocated for COVID-19 handling attempts.

In addition, they are required to report developments in the COVID-19 situation in their respective regions to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

The regional heads also have to hand the reports to the home affairs minister and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

"Enforcement of the activity restrictions can be resumed (in the future) if there is a surge (in the number) of COVID-19 cases," Karnavian noted in the instruction that came into force on December 30, 2022.


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Translator: Boyke Watra, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022