JAKARTA (UCAN): The rapid spread of the Delta variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Indonesia over the last two weeks of June, prompted the country’s president, Joko Widodo, to announced emergency restrictions on the country’s two most populous islands, Java and Bali.
In a July 1 statement, Widodo declared that the two islands would be under heightened restrictions effective from July 3 to 20.
Indonesia has experienced a significant increase in cases, with 20,000 being recorded per day toward the end of June. From June 23 to 29, 138,352 cases were recorded, with 2,748 deaths.
However, these are widely regarded as conservative estimates because of poor testing outside Jakarta.
The Health Ministry also reported alarming bed occupancy rates in three provinces on Java—Jakarta, Banten and West Java—which have surpassed 90 per cent, while others elsewhere on the island are also feeling the strain.
“This situation requires us to take more decisive steps to stem the Covid-19 tide,” Widodo said.
According to Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, who is in charge of implementing the new measure, a host of public services and facilities will be hit, including places of worship.
Restaurants are only allowed to offer takeaway services and public transport will operate at 70 per cent capacity.
People travelling long distances on planes, buses and trains must show proof that they have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and tested negative for the virus two days prior to their journey.
People travelling long distances on planes, buses and trains must show proof that they have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and tested negative for the virus two days prior to their journey.
Religious leaders welcomed the measure and called on people to follow them.
Father Antonius Benny Susetyo, an activist, said it was the right move.
“The key to its implementation, however, is discipline among the populace,” Father Susetyo said. He feared people would flout the rules because many have grown frustrated and tired of the pandemic.
“At this time, it takes togetherness among citizens to remind each other and strengthen each other to be faithful to the health protocols,” he said.
Meanwhile, Agus Samsudin, chairperson of the Covid-19 Command Centre of the second-largest Muslim organisation, Muhammadiyah, said the policy needs to be accompanied by law enforcement and provide social security for economically affected families.
Samsudin also hopes for attention to the availability of facilities for Covid-19 patients as many hospitals are at full capacity.
