President Joko Widodo will end the implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) by the end of this year. According to Jokowi, this is in view of the improving Covid-19 pandemic situation in the country.
"Today, yesterday, our daily cases were at 1,200 and maybe by the end of the year we will declare an end to PSBB (Large-Scale Social Restrictions), our PPKM," said Jokowi, as quoted by Kompas.com on Wednesday (21/12).
So, what is the trend of Indonesia's weekly Covid-19 positivity rate over the last month?
Based on the report of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Indonesia's weekly Covid-19 positivity rate in the third week of December 2022 was 4.77%. This figure has been continuously decreasing for the last month.
In the third week of November 2022, Indonesia's weekly Covid-19 positivity rate reached 20.49%. Then, the figure decreased in the fourth week of November 2022 to 20.30%.
Then, in the first week of December 2022, Indonesia's weekly Covid-19 positivity rate became 11.43%. Similarly, in the second week of December 2022, the figure decreased to 7.54%.
Meanwhile, Epidemiologist from Griffith University Dicky Budiman suggested that the government postpone the revocation of PPKM until after the Christmas and New Year holidays (Nataru). He also warned of a surge in Covid-19 cases like that occurring in China.
"Speaking of mitigation, strategies including PPKM, I think we should wait, until when? Until the situation at the beginning of January is seen to be under control," said Dicky, as quoted by Detik.com on Wednesday (21/12).
In facing the planned revocation of PPKM, Dicky urged that vaccination be intensified. According to him, vaccination is the capital for protection and immunity. He hopes that after the revocation of PPKM, the public will not neglect health protocols.