https://img.jakpost.net/c/2020/03/28/2020_03_28_91026_1585405771._large.jpg
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (center), accompanied by Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Nana Sudjana (left) and Kodam Jaya military commander Maj. Gen. Eko Margiyono, announces the extension of the COVID-19 state of emergency during a press briefing at City Hall on Saturday, March 28, 2020. (Courtesy of/Jakarta provincial adminsitration)

Central government supports return to full PSBB, Anies says

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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has said that the central government supports his decision to reimpose full large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in the capital, despite several Cabinet members criticizing the move in the past few days.

“The government is supportive,” Anies said on Saturday following a meeting with the National Economic Recovery and COVID-19 Response Team on Saturday night, as quoted by kompas.com. “The central government understands that there has been a significant spike [in COVID-19 cases] in September.”

Anies said that the full details regarding the reimposed PSBB would be announced in a press conference on Sunday. 

“We will announce it in the form of a regulation with detailed articles so that there won’t be differing interpretations,” he said.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil played down reports of disagreements between the Jakarta administration, the central government and neighboring provinces.

“Just finished a meeting between the governors of Jakarta, West Java and Banten regarding the technical [details] of Jakarta’s PSBB and Greater Jakarta’s strategy,” Ridwan tweeted on Saturday night. “There is no difference of agreement. There are no pro-economy or pro-health factions. They both complement and strengthen each other.”

Anies had announced the return to full PSBB on Wednesday, citing an increasing number of daily new COVID-19 cases and a decreasing number of available hospital beds.

Following the announcement, several government officials expressed their concerns. Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang said he was worried about the PSBB’s potential effects on the improving trend of industrial performance, while Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto warned about the risks of disruptions in the distribution channel if PSBB measures were reimposed.

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who also heads the National Economic Recovery and COVID-19 Response Team, said that the announcement had caused the stock market to dip, while President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that the plan should be "well and cautiously calculated”. (kmt)