Cases of COVID-19 transmission in Papua Province continue to show significant improvement and have not shown any decrease at all. COVID-19 confirmation patient data reached 15,962 people until February 1, 2021,

In response to this, Papua Province is also planning to implement the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) as well as seven provinces on the island of Java and Bali.

This was reinforced by an agreement with the Papua Provincial Government and a number of relevant ministries, to prepare a number of related matters including measures to implement Restrictions on Community Activities.

"Papua province does not include 7 provinces that implement Restrictions on Community Activities, but we were invited last night (Monday, red) in a virtual meeting with the relevant ministries, perhaps as if (Papua became) a candidate to implement Restrictions on Community Activities ".

"Because, based on the trend, we in Papua (cases of transmission) are still high as well, and the virus continues to grow, so the potential (PPKM) is there," explained Assistant for Economic and People's Welfare of Papua, Muhammad Musa'ad, in Jayapura, Tuesday afternoon.

According to Musa'ad, the Papua Provincial Government this week immediately prepared measures to implement Restrictions on Community Activities, so that it is ready to implement if the central government decides to apply in Papua. 

"The implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities is the central authority, if the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) of Papua Province is requested to be enforced. Which, the mechanism of the proposed area, the center set". 

"If the central of Restrictions on Community Activities determines what we are implementing, but last night with the Coordination Forum for Regional Leaders of Papua also we have agreed that there are some parts of Restrictions on Community Activities that can be enforced here. Maybe we start from government offices, then shops, then restaurants which are already in the instructions of the Minister of Home Affairs No. 2 of 2020," he said.  

To be sure, Musa'ad added, the Papua Provincial Government not only imposed restrictions of 50 percent, but also effectively campaigned for the Sinovac vaccine as well as the application of health protocols.