VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 8 - The extension of micro-scale community activity restrictions (micro-scale PPKM) from March 9 to March 22 this year is expected to bring down the number of COVID-19 cases, according to the COVID-19 Handling Task Force. "If anyone has doubts about the micro-scale PPKM, please continue to observe the results of the policy from the start to finish," commented spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, in a press statement received here on Monday.

The extension of the micro-scale PPKM is included in the Instruction of the Minister of State (Number 5 of 2021) on the Implementation of the Micro-scale Community Activity Restrictions and on the Optimization of COVID-19 Handling Posts and Sub-Districts for Control of the Spread of COVID-19.

Under the instruction, micro-scale PPKM has been extended to provinces outside Java-Bali islands, comprising North Sumatra, East Kalimantan, and South Sulawesi. The government is extending the micro-scale PPKM policy from March 9 until March 22, 2021 as it is believed to be effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19 cases, Adisasmito explained.

He noted that the key to the success of the micro-scale PPKM is having a structured task force from the provincial, district/city, sub-districts, to the village level. The task force comprises civilian officials, personnel from the national army and the police, as well as community leaders.

"All work for four functions, including prevention, handling, coaching, and support. Everything is controlled and monitored, so it is effective," Adisasmito said.

The third stage of micro-scale PPKM, which was applied in DKI Jakarta, West Java, Banten, Bali, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), contributed greatly to reducing the number of cases, he informed.

"Even cases in East Java have decreased since the second phase of PPKM," he added.

The micro-based PPKM is expected to increase community compliance in using masks, he said adding, the increasing use of masks under the micro-scale PPKM can be attributed to supervision being carried out over a narrower area, making monitoring tighter.

By the end of February2021, as many as 22,832 COVID-19 posts have been established in 30 provinces. Most activities at the COVID-19 posts during the enforcement of the PPKM focused on education and socialization in using masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands with soap. (Antaranews)