Residents Patrol Dense Settlements to Fight Pandemic

RT and RW chiefs are in charge of ascertaining the adequacy of food supplies for the senior citizens. There’s also control and quick action in the event of those showing symptoms of coughing, having a cold and fever.

ARSIP KELURAHAN PEGANGSAAN

Members of the Pegangsaan subdistrict team, Menteng, Central Jakarta, patrol on Tuesday (31/3/2020), reminding stall owners and buyers to apply physical distancing.

Residents and subdistrict heads have taken the initiative to conduct patrols around their areas to make sure there are no gatherings that form crowds. Among people at the grassroots level, sidewalk vendors are still allowed as long as they adhere to the physical distancing requirement.

“We’ve been patrolling every day for almost three weeks,” said Parsiyo, head of Pegangsaan subdistrict, Menteng, Central Jakarta, when contacted on Tuesday (31/3/2020). He always directs morning and afternoon patrols with subdistrict officers and other administrative personnel.

Pegangsaan subdistrict is composed of eight community units (RW) and 104 neighborhood units (RT). Some of the RW only comprise middle-income houses and the others are made up of dense urban settlements, where one home can be occupied by two to three families.

Ready meals are delivered twice daily during the period of quarantine.

According to Parsiyo, residents have indeed complained about the discomforts of having to stay at home at this time. Therefore, he and his ranks are patrolling by utilizing loudspeakers. They not only warn stubborn residents who still persistently hang out together but also give information about how to practice independent quarantines.

He disclosed that the majority of sidewalk traders and coffee stalls had closed. However, stalls selling basic necessities and vegetables are open.

In the absence of subdistrict personnel, RT and RW chiefs are obligated to control residents buying daily needs in order to queue up by maintaining a minimum distance of 1 meter.

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Elderly residents are also being monitored and given special service. RT and RW chiefs are in charge of ascertaining the adequacy of food supplies for the senior citizens. Besides, there’s also control and quick action in the event of those showing symptoms of coughing, having a cold and fever.

“A resident from RW 006 has tested positive for the coronavirus after a doctor’s examination. Now he undergoes independent isolation at home.

Three members of his family have been examined and turned out to be negative,” said Parsiyo.

He explained that this positive case was in fine condition so that no hospital treatment was needed. Every day officers from the subdistrict public health center make a visit to examine his health condition and family members. The officers are required to wear personal protection gear.

“The family is also provided with food by the Central Jakarta Social Affairs Sub-Office. Ready meals are delivered twice daily during the period of quarantine,” he said.

Also read : Finance Needs to be Well Arranged so that the “Work from Home” Policy will not Cause an Increase in Spending.

ARSIP RUDI HARTONO

Residents of Kebon Manggis subdistrict, Matraman, East Jakarta, disinfectant their houses independently on Tuesday (31/3/2020).

Independent disinfection

In Kebon Manggis subdistrict, Matraman district, East Jakarta, residents are disinfecting their respective houses. Some are doing it on their own while others living in the same road section are sharing to carry out regular disinfection. Mosques and prayer houses, although already vacated, are also routinely sterilized. In every access to rows of houses, a wash basin and soap are made available.

A member of the Kebon Manggis Subdistrict Consultative Agency, Rudi Hartono, said residents had also formed a daily patrol team. They are patrolling in the morning, at noon and in the afternoon to make sure the absence of crowds. Sellers of basic needs and vegetables are also asked to wear face masks and hand gloves when serving buyers. Residents are also required to wash their hands before entering their homes at the wash basins provided.

He indicated that sidewalk snack sellers had halted their business over the last two weeks. They are dwelling in leased homes because the subdistrict strictly demands that none of them leave their settlements, let alone Jakarta.

They are patrolling in the morning, at noon and in the afternoon to make sure the absence of crowds.

“In several RTs residents initiate the sharing of livelihood with dwellers of leased homes who cannot earn income. So far they’ve done this out of personal willingness,” said Rudi.

He revealed that in Kebon Manggis subdistrict none had yet been declared positively affected by COVID-19, but some were under treatment due to hemorrhage fever. Residents request the government to pay attention to the handling of mosquitoes and larvae in spite of its preoccupation with the Covid-19 problem.

KOMPAS/LARASWATI ARIADNE ANWAR

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan speaks at a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday (26/3/2020). The Jakarta administration is providing hotel rooms to accommodate medical staff during the treatment of patients infected by the coronavirus.

Under discussion

At a press conference at City Hall, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the scheme of compensation to be given to residents deprived of livelihood while staying at home was under discussion. This issue is also to be deliberated at the national level. The Jakarta provincial government will only announce it when the discussion is thoroughly finished.

He asked residents to utilize the basic necessities purchase and delivery service provided by the Jakarta Regional Market Company as well as other agencies in order to minimize the need to go out.