Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA) - The North Sumatra provincial government is awaiting the central government's decision on enforcement of emergency public activity restriction (PPKM) in the provincial capital of Medan where COVID-19 cases spiked in the past couple of weeks.
"The North Sumatra provincial government is waiting for the central government's decision on the emergency PPKM. At this moment, we are preparing a scheme for the surveillance of COVID-19 spread. The scheme will be implemented starting next week," North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi stated here on Saturday.
Quoting the statement of Economic Affairs Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto, the governor remarked that Medan along with 14 cities in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua will enforce emergency PPKM on account of a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
"The emergency PPKM policy is part of the government's precautionary measures to better curb the spread of COVID-19," he emphasized.
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Rahmayadi noted that Medan was included in the plan for the enforcement of emergency PPKM, as it was listed at level 4. However, it is at the bottom of the list.
Medan is listed at level 4 since more than 30 out of its every 100 thousand residents were hospitalized for COVID-19 in the past week, he pointed out.
"Let us await the central government's decision. However, we have discussed preparations for it (emergency PPKM), including restricting crowds, banning takbir keliling (on-street recital of Allah Akbar (God is Great) on the eve of Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice), and calling for Muslims to perform prayers at home," he stated.
The governor stated that if the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were to soar to five thousand, the city would run short of 800 beds. In total, the city's hospitals have 4,112 beds.
"Hence, all stakeholders, including the public, must curb the number of COVID-19 cases by reducing their mobility, among others," he emphasized.
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