Imam Hamdi, Jakarta – Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, the head of the Department of Epidemiology of the University of Indonesia, suggested the government thoroughly evaluate the policy on the extended transitional PSBB or large-scale social restriction that will end on July 30.

"Evaluate it by considering data from the initial PSBB, too, not only from the transitional PSBB," said Tri on Monday, July 27.

According to him, a thorough evaluation of this restriction policy proved that the government made a wrong decision by relaxing the social and economic activities while the pandemic has not been controlled yet.

Tri said the Jakarta administration must enforce better policies to prevent further COVID-19 transmission, given the soaring number of positive cases during the transition period.

"The number of people getting tested has indeed increased, but the surge in new cases must be concerned because it has not declined yet."

The epidemiologist also advised the government to apply several options after the extended transitional PSBB will end in the next few days. First, the government could enforce extreme measures by re-implementing PSBB in the province.

Secondly, the government could conduct a regional, district, subdistrict, and up to community unit-level PSBB. "This should be analyzed well. If one district is at risk of COVID-19, do not hesitate to limit the people's movement in that area."

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1369616/jakarta-advised-to-evaluate-transitional-psbb-using-initial-data