There is One Thing that Cannot be Negotiated in Traditional Markets ...

KOMPAS/IQBAL BASYARI

A resident disinfects money after conducting transactions at a traditional market in Surabaya, East Java, Thursday (7/5/2020).

During the COVID-19 outbreak, traders and buyers in traditional markets can still bargain, except over one thing: compliance with health protocols.

"Put the money in the plastic bag," Margaretta, 60, said to a vegetable trader at a traditional market in Gunung Anyar, Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday. After the bargain, the housewife immediately paid with cash, which she put in a plastic bag.

In addition to replacing the wallet with a plastic bag for the last two weeks, she also always wears gloves when entering the market. In addition, she also carries antiseptic liquid that she uses to clean both her hands before and after wearing gloves.

Another Surabaya resident, Jacinta, 35, after buying vegetables at a mobile vegetable seller, she always cleans the goods she buys, including vegetables before cooking. She wants to make sure the virus is not attached to the vegetables.

I always keep my distance and wear masks when buying

"Even though it is not as busy as in the traditional market, I always keep my distance and wear masks when buying," she said.

Since the emergence of COVID-19, health protocols have been strictly followed by a number of residents, especially housewives when buying vegetables in traditional markets. The health procedures such as the use of masks, gloves and keeping a distance are always implemented. In fact, money from traders also gets special attention because it has the potential to be a medium for spreading the virus.

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HUMAS PEMKOT SURABAYA

In order to safeguard and protect traders and buyers, the Surabaya city government conducts rapid tests at Simo and Simo Gunung Surabaya markets. The rapid tests were held in the two markets because some time ago one of the traders was found to be infected with COVID-19 and died.

The precaution of these buyers is reasonable, considering that five traditional markets have been closed after a number of traders tested positive for COVID-19. In accordance with health protocols, markets have to be closed for two weeks to prevent widespread transmission. A number of traders are required to undergo COVID-19 rapid testing.

The head of the economy and business department of the Surabaya city administration, Agus Hebi Djuniantoro, said his office had tightened control over the implementation of health protocols to halt the spread of the disease.

At least 1 meter distance

Every trader and buyer in the market must use a mask and wash their hands. The distance between traders at the market should be at least 1 meter. In addition, they should also keep a distance of at least 1 meter from their buyers and wear gloves.

"We also warn that money used for transactions should be cleaned with disinfectant liquid because it has the potential to become a medium for transmission of the virus," Hebi said.

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Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Officers conduct a health screening during a COVID-19 rapid test on traders in Larangan Market, Sidoarjo, East Java, Wednesday (6/5/2020). The quick test was carried out after one trader in the market tested positive for COVID-19. Up to 220 traders took the rapid test.

Since a month ago, five traditional markets and two wholesale centers markets in Surabaya have been closed after a number of the traders tested positive for COVID-19. The two wholesale markets in Surabaya: the Kapasan market and the Surabaya Wholesale Center (PGS) were closed on 4 April and 5 April, respectively.

In the Kapasan market, there was one confirmed case while in the PGS market, there were four confirmed cases. The infected trader in the PGS market transmitted the virus to others even though distance restrictions had been tightly implemented. Two traditional markets, namely the Simo Market and Simo Gunung Market, were recently closed for 14 days after two traders died from COVID-19. Of the 40 traders who took the rapid test, some were reactive, meaning that there was a possibility that they had been infected.

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Other traditional markets that have been closed after confirmed cases of COVID-19 were detected include the PPI Market on Jl. Gresik (26 confirmed cases), which was closed on 15 April 2020, the Kupang Gunung Market (two confirmed cases), which was closed on 3 May 2020, and Jojoran Market (one confirmed case), which was closed on 5 May, 2020.

Five traditional markets and two wholesale centers markets in Surabaya have been closed.

In addition to Surabaya, a number of confirmed COVID-19 cases also were also detected in the traditional markets in Sidoarjo, Padang and Solo. In Sidoarjo, the disease infected a number of traders in the Krian market and Larangan market. While in Padang, 36 cases were detected in Padang Market. Meanwhile, in Solo, one trader at Klewer Market tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition, new cases in other traditional markets were detected after rapid tests, such as in Bojonegoro and Pontianak. Meanwhile, 17 employees at supermarkets in Yogyakarta showed reactive results after taking rapid tests.

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HUMAS PEMKOT SURABAYA

The Surabaya city government not only gives instructions for traders and buyers to keep their distance and not to touch, but also arranges traders\' goods at Pucang Anom Market on Sunday (26/4/2020).

Potential for transmission

Lecturer in the department of epidemiology in the School of Public Health, Airlangga University, Atik Choirul Hidajah, said the potential for transmission in traditional markets was quite high. However, the markets cannot be closed because of their importance in allowing people to purchase their basic daily needs.

Therefore, market operators must ensure that all traders and buyers implement health protocols properly. "Health protocols in traditional markets are not negotiable," she said.

Apart from adhering to protocols, it would be better if buyers in the market could be limited. There should be a limitation on the number of buyers so that the distance restriction can be implemented. The policy to reduce operating hours must be reviewed because it has the potential to create a crowd of buyers at certain times.

The handling of COVID-19 in traditional markets is indeed quite complex. In addition to health factors, there are thousands of people who depend on the markets for their livelihoods. The need for food and drink cannot be stopped, so the implementation of the protocol is not negotiable.