The government’s restrictions on public activities are being relaxed not long after it was ostensibly tightened, specifically related to the opening hours of malls and restaurants.
Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who also heads the COVID-19 Handling and Economic Recovery Committee, confirmed today that the Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM) policy is being extended for two weeks starting Jan. 26 until Feb. 8. PPKM, which amounts to a partial lockdown, has been imposed in cities and regencies in Java and Bali with high infection rates from Jan. 11.
Once the extension comes into effect, however, the government is modifying one rule related to malls and restaurants.
“Malls and restaurants, which were previously required to close by 7pm at the latest, will now be required to close by 8pm. This will apply uniformly to all [PPKM] regions,” Airlangga said in a press conference today.
Airlangga said the modification was made because some regions changed certain rules in PPKM to suit their respective needs. For example, Bali mandated that businesses must close by 9pm and set work from office capacity to 50 percent.
Apart from the latest modification, Airlangga said all regions must abide by the original PPKM rules. Among others, under PPKM, affected cities and regencies will be required to limit work from office capacity to 25 percent, resume online learning, and limit capacity at religious facilities to 50 percent.
Restaurants are allowed to serve takeaway and delivery orders, but must limit dine-in customers to 25 percent capacity.
PPKM may be extended on a biweekly basis pending the central government’s evaluation of COVID-19 infection risk.
