The government has eased the latest COVID-19 restrictions in the country’s most populous areas, but data show that the relaxations have led to more COVID-19 cases and health protocol violations. The government has extended its public activity restrictions (PPKM) for another two weeks in 77 cities and regencies across Java and Bali, from Jan. 26 to Feb. 8, with the restrictions being less stringent than previously. For example, the operational hours for public places such as shopping malls and restaurants are extended to 8 p.m. During the previous period of PPKM between Jan. 11 and 25, malls and restaurants were only allowed to serve dine-in customers until 7 p.m. During the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) that were implemented extensively across the archipelago in April last year, restaurants were banned from providing dine-in services and only allowed to provide ta…