Jakarta Extends PPKM Micro to May 17 as Cases Surge

The Jakarta administration is again extending the micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro), as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the capital city.

May residents comply with health protocols

This restriction is in effect until May 17 in accordance with Governor Decree number 558/2021 on Extension of PPKM Mikro and Governor Instruction number 27/2021 on Extension of PPKM Mikro at RT level.

Based on data compiled by the Health Agency, in the last two weeks, there has been a fluctuating increase in active cases, where on April 19, there were 6,884 active cases and there was an increase to 7,020 active cases on May 3. Even so, the Health Agency Head, Widyastuti, said the situation was still under control, as the availability of isolation beds and ICU was still sufficient considering the percentage of occupations had shown a decline.

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"As of April 18, the total capacity of isolation beds is 7,087 units and occupied 2,691 or 38%, while on May 3 the number of beds is 6,735 and 2,385 or 35% occupied. For the total ICU capacity on April 18, it is 1,056 and is occupied with 500 patients or 47%, while on May 3, the total ICU capacity is 1,027 and occupied with 425 or 41%. Respectively, there is a reduction of 3% in isolation beds and 6% for the ICU, thus it could be transferred to non-COVID-19 patients," she expressed, as quoted by Jakarta PPID's press release.

She also reminded the public to discipline health protocols, especially during the last week of Ramadan until Eid al-Fitr. It could be separated from the increase in active cases due to the emergence of office clusters, moreover the government had also allowed residents to perform tarawih nigth prayers at mosques during Ramadan, with a capacity of 50% of the building.

"May residents comply with health protocols, including avoiding crowds and mobilization is essential. In fact, a month ago, the number exposed to positive cases was less than a thousand from the current number. We want collaboration at every level of society to be solid, to reduce this spread," she added.

She continued the collaboration was also realized with the ongoing vaccination process. The number of vaccination targets for stages 1 and 2 (health workers, the elderly, and public servants) was 3,000,689 people. The total vaccination dose 1 was currently 1,947,986 people (64.9%) and the total vaccination dose 2 now touched 1,256,966 people (41.9%).

In the meantime, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan directed all his staff, to anticipate any potential increase in the rate of active cases before and after Eid. It was done by preparing regulations in various matters, such as controlling the number of visitors in markets, overseeing office areas, and ensuring prayer activities during Ramadan to Eid prayers according to health protocols.

"We considered allowing Eid prayers in an open area, as it is easy to manage the spacing. The regulations will be in accordance with the direction of the City Secretary's Circular. If the conditions allow, hopefully we can maintain health protocols thus our efforts can run smoothly," he utterred.

"This is all we do to minimize the potential for an increase in cases before Eid. However, after Eid, we shouldn't be careless, as before the pandemic, there was a lot of mobilization from the regions to the capital. This is where the most vital and most risky moment is, thus all Forkopimda ranks in Jakarta, even our neighbors in the capital's buffer zone are also invited to collaborate in controlling the mobilization of these residents," he concluded.