The Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. (H.C.) Puan Maharani reminded the government to be careful in easing the Large-scale Social Restrictions (PSBB). According to Maharani, the relaxation of PSBB must be based on the data on the development of the COVID-19 cases in all regions in Indonesia and by applying the principle of cautions. 

“It is similar to the time when the government applied the principle of cautions before deciding to allow a region to apply PSBB. The same principle has to be applied before deciding to ease the restrictions in a region,” Maharani said in her press release to Parlementaria, Monday (11/5/2020). 

Maharani said daily reported cases of COVID-19 Task Force showed that the number of patients with COVID-19 was still fluctuating. Such situation had sent a message as an important factor to consider. Moreover, she added that other data showed that the daily capacity of PCR test had not yet reached the target set by the President, still 5,000 specimens per day or still half of the target of 10,000 specimens per day. 

“It is important that the decision to or not to relax the PSBB is made based on detailed data which is carefully analyzed. We do not want to see an increase in the rate of new infections. Therefore, the government needs to conduct a relaxation simulation to see the impact that it has,” the politician of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle advised.

“The two key issues arising from the pandemic: propelling economy and taking health measure. Now, it is not the time to choose one of the two. Rather, we should strike a balance between these two critical issues. Economic and health issues must go hand in hand. Whatever policy that will be decided, it has to be fully disseminated to the public with greater coordination to prevent the public from plunging into confusion. In addition, there is a continuous need of discipline, solidarity, empathy, and consistency in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Putting an end to this pandemic needs a collaborative work and mutual cooperation,” the legislator from Central Java constituency, who is also the former Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister, concluded.