Indonesia adjusts COVID-19 restrictions according to localities
Indonesia has extended the public activity restriction policy, locally known as PPKM, in Java and Bali, which was previously set to end on September 20.
Police monitor travel on a road in Indonesia. (Source: Xinhua/VNA)Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan told a virtual press conference that the PPKM is extended for two more weeks from September 21 to October 4 to curb COVID-19 spread.
The Indonesian government continues to conduct evaluations weekly for the two islands and one every two weeks for other areas to anticipate any changes, he added.
Despite the extension, easing restrictions has been seen in a number of fields, including the reopening of such public spaces as shopping centres, entertainment areas, markets, cinemas, and churches.
The PPKM, beginning in Indonesia in July, has been extended multiple times along with easing restrictions given continuous reductions of COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of August.
On September 20, Indonesia logged 1,932 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest since August 2020.
Indonesia, once Asia's coronavirus epicentre, has reported nearly 4.2 million infections overall and over 140,000 deaths, but new cases have dropped 98 percent from their peak in July, according to Luhut Pandjaitan.
Its average positivity rate - the percentage of tests that are positive - was just below 4 percent this month, under the World Health Organization's 5 percent threshold for determining whether an outbreak is under control.
The official warned, however, that were still risks of new infection waves and said quarantine protocols would be strengthened at entry points./.
You should also see
Youths' efforts yield socio-economic fruits
Many activities were carried out across the nation during the Vietnam’s Youth Month, an annual festivity taking place in March to celebrate the establishment of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU), contributing to the nation’s socio-economic development, heard a conference held by the union's Central Committee in Hanoi on April 23.
See more
World
Ten crew members killed after two Malaysian navy helicopters collide
Ten people have died after two navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a military rehearsal for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade.
World
Indonesian Constitutional Court rejects petitions against presidential election results
The Indonesian Constitutional Court on April 22 rejected all petitions regarding the country’s presidential election results filed by two presidential candidates - Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Prabowo-Mahfud M.D.
ASEAN
ASEAN youth empowered to unleash potential: ASEAN chief
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
World
Malaysian official urges collective efforts in plastic waste fight
A Malaysian official has underlined the importance of collective efforts, particularly by the public, in promoting the use of reusable bags and reducing single-use plastics in the fight against plastic waste.
World
Malaysia attaches importance to high-quality investments, start-ups
Six Malaysian ministers on April 22 made a joint commitment to ensure a coherent approach to achieve the goal of the Kuala Lumpur 20 Summit 2024 (KL20 summit 2024) to make Malaysia a vibrant hub for startups and high-quality investments.
