Jakarta – The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has urged the Jakarta administration to extend the length of its partial lockdown, also known as large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), from the usual two weeks to three weeks.
"As Jakarta IDI chairman and IDI deputy, I suggest that the PSBB be enacted for three weeks minimum," Slamet Budiarto said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.
Slamet said three weeks would cover the virus' 14-day incubation period and an extra transitional week to completely curb transmission.
"Moreover, the workers of the 11 business sectors [that are allowed to operate during the PSBB] are still going to do activities outside. Therefore, IDI advises at least three weeks for the PSBB," he said.
Jakarta will reimpose PSBB measures on Monday after recording record daily increases of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in the past several weeks.
On Thursday, the capital recorded 1,274 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 50,671, according to Health Ministry data. (aly)