PSBB for regional govts, 300 disinfectant sprayers assistance from South Korea

Last updated on May 11th, 2021 at 08:50 am

Regional administrations will be allowed to apply large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). This is because the COVID-19 Task Force has evaluated the physical distancing policy to be ineffective due to its reliance on individual discipline. Therefore, The Indonesian Government sees the application of the PSBB by regional governments as a better alternative to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.

“The (central) government is giving the Regional Governments the opportunity to apply for PSBB,” said COVID-19 Task Force Spokesperson Ahmad Yurianto, at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Building, Jakarta, on Wednesday, April 8.

As its legal basis, regional government’s application for PSBB will use Government Regulation No. 21 concerning PSBB and Minister of Health Regulation No. 9 of 2020 concerning PSBB Guidelines.

By allowing regional governments to apply large-scale social restrictions, physical distancing can be implemented more effectively in the country, Yurianto said.

In spite of this, Yurianto hoped that the public would see PSBB as a necessary restriction, as opposed to prohibition. The necessary thing, especially due to the fact that individuals can continue with their daily activities, due to being COVID-19 positive without or minimal symptoms.

“On the other hand, many vulnerable people are still ignoring physical distancing and are not washing hands, so the transmission of the disease has continued. That is the reason why the government is intending to strengthen it (social distancing),” he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Health approving Jakarta’s application, the capital will be under PSBB starting from Friday, April 10.

Meanwhile, regarding national borders, Chief of the National Agency for Border Management (BNPP) Tito Karnavian, has formed a COVID-19 Task Force, also known as the BNPP Task Force, on duty for 7 months, until October 2020.

The establishment of the BNPP Task Force is stipulated in the Chief of BNPP’s Decree Number PWS / 81.04 / 830 / IV / 2020 on 7 April 2020.

Tito, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs, explained that the BNPP Task Force was formed for the prevention of coronavirus or COVID-19 transmission between nations.

Aside form that, the formation of the Task Force has also been for the acceleration of an integrated and synergized COVID-19 management between the central and regional governments in the national border regions, neighboring other countries.

“That includes the seven regions of the nation’s border outposts (PLBN),” Tito said in a written broadcast, on Thursday, April 9.

Disinfectant sprayers

In order to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across the country, Indonesia has received 300 disinfectant sprayers from South Korea.

South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Kim Chang Beom symbolically handed over the humanitarian aid to Harmensyah, general secretary of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as the coordinator of the COVID-19 Response Task Force in Indonesia, at the BNPB building in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 8.

Kim Chang Beom echoed the South Korean government’s keenness to extend the humanitarian aid to Indonesia as a symbol of strategic partnership and prioritizing Indonesia to receive humanitarian aid and medical equipment to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

He highlighted the South Korean government’s full commitment to offering varied forms of assistance worth US$500 thousand to Indonesia.