Indonesia extends highest level of COVID-19 restrictions till Aug. 2

JAKARTA, July 25– Indonesia will extend its level 4, or the highest level of restrictions for the next eight days to control the transmission of COVID-19, President Joko Widodo said on Sunday. “By considering the aspects of health, economy and social dynamics, we decided to continue implementing of the level 4 PPKM from July 26 to Aug. 2,” Widodo said in a virtual press…

JAKARTA, July 25 (Xinhua) — Indonesia will extend its level 4, or the highest level of restrictions for the next eight days to control the transmission of COVID-19, President Joko Widodo said on Sunday.

“By considering the aspects of health, economy and social dynamics, we decided to continue implementing of the level 4 PPKM (public activity restrictions) from July 26 to Aug. 2,” Widodo said in a virtual press conference.

Offices and shopping centers will be closed under the level 4 of restrictions. Meanwhile, traditional markets that provide groceries are allowed to operate fully with strict health protocols, while other shops are allowed to open with a maximum of 50 percent of visitors until 3:00 p.m. local time.

Small businesses such as street vendors, barbershops and laundry companies are allowed to operate until 9:00 p.m., and open-air restaurants until 8:00 p.m. local time.

Widodo asked people to be vigilant against the highly contagious Delta variant and possible emergence of other more dangerous variants.

The Southeast Asian country has so far recorded 3,166,505 cases of COVID-19, with 2,509,318 recoveries and 83,279 deaths. Enditem