Central Government Orders Partial Lockdown In Bali And Java As Cases Continue To Surge

The central government has issued a partial lockdown in Bali and Java island as COVID-19 cases continue to surge.

The new decree restricting public activity in Bali and Java will be in effect from January 11 to 25.

(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)

The Head of Covid-19 Handling Committee and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN), Airlangga Hartanto issued decree Number 21 Year 2020 on limited social activity in order to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The partial lockdown will be implemented as the two islands check off the 4 indicators which call for added measures” said Airlangga on Wednesday (6/1)

(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)

According to the central government, the 4 indicators that lead a province into a partial lockdown are as follows :

The death rate in the province is higher than the national rate (3%)
The recovery rate is lower than the national recovery rate (82%)
The identified active cases are higher than the national active rate (14%)
The occupancy of isolation rooms and ICU is above 70%

(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)

“The purpose of the partial lockdown is not to forbid any kind of activity but to limit potential crowding in public places” Airlangga added.

Offices will still be allowed to operate at 25% capacity, schools are only to operate through online classes, and working hours of shopping malls and public transportation will be limited.

Essential businesses such as grocery stores are to operate as usual.