Indonesia has been easing its four-tiered COVID-19 restrictions on public activities, locally known as PPKM, following a drop in new cases, deaths and hospitalizations.

JAKARTA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) — The face of Darius Sutanto, a gym buff, lit up when he read out a recent news story about the reopening of gyms in Indonesian capital Jakarta after long-time closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indonesia has been easing its four-tiered COVID-19 restrictions on public activities, locally known as PPKM, following a drop in new cases, deaths and hospitalizations.

The peak of daily COVID-19 cases in the Southeast Asian country was reported in July this year, fueled by the Delta variant of the virus.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has recently announced the extension of the PPKM to Oct. 18, with more adjustments made regarding the restrictions during the extension period.

The government will allow the reopening of fitness centers with a maximum capacity of 25 percent, the minister said, adding that movie fans can now consume food and beverages in movie theaters.

Cinema halls in the regions under PPKM Level 3, 2 and 1 are currently permitted to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people, is under PPKM Level 3.

For people like Sutanto who loves going to the gyms and cinemas, the announcement was good news.

With the relaxed restrictions, people will feel better physically and mentally, 31-year-old Sutanto, an accountant, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

“I’m going to hit the gym with friends after work today,” he said, adding his last visit to a gym was in March last year.

The relaxation of the restrictions also gave hope to Dennis Wijaya, an entrepreneur working in the fitness industry for more than three years.

“In the days before the pandemic, my gym was visited by many people. I have been so desperate after the COVID-19 hits my business hard. Thankfully, I can now reopen it,” the 35-year-old man said.

Both Wijaya and Sutanto expressed their hope that the government would keep improving the pandemic prevention and control in the country.

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry reported that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose by 1,484 within one day to 4.22 million, with the death toll adding by 75 to 142,413.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has likened the fighting of the pandemic to a war.

“Until today, we are still in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. If it was likened to a war, fighting the COVID-19 virus at this time is like a protracted war,” the president said during the 76th anniversary ceremony of the Indonesian National Armed Forces in the presidential palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The Indonesian government is targeting to inoculate 208.26 million people against COVID-19.

To date, at least 54.44 million people in the country have received two doses of vaccines, while 95.78 million have taken the first dose.

Both Wijaya and Sutanto, who have been fully vaccinated, are encouraging their families, relatives and friends to go for vaccination to contribute to the country’s fight against the virus.

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 not only keeps people healthy but also lowers healthcare costs, thus making it possible for people to return to work and resume economic activities, Sutanto said.