Monitoring of Social Restrictions Still Loose

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

A person caught violating large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) is ordered to wear a vest that reads "PSBB Violator" and to sing the "Indonesia Raya" anthem during an operation by law and order officers, backed up by Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers and police officers at Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, Thursday (14/5/2020 ). Residents caught violating PSBB measures have been punished through written warnings and social sanctions.

Crowds continue to increase despite social restrictions. The government has promised it will monitor the data and the latest developments in the field before deciding to ease the restrictions.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Crowds were still seen in a number of areas, especially in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi despite the implementation of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in the Jabodetabek areas.

With such a situation, many people are pessimistic that the COVID-19 outbreak can be immediately resolved.

On Friday (15/05/2020), a number of main streets in Jabodetabek were still packed with vehicles. Social activities had caused crowds such as those found on Jl. Raya Condet and Jl. Raya Kramatjati, East Jakarta; Jl. Raya Daan Mogot, Cengkareng, West Jakarta; and on Jl. Ir H Juanda, Ciputat, South Tangerang.

Also read: Regions May Impose Sanctions

Health protocols were also not implemented. Many residents still rode motorcycles without masks, while the control over the people’s movement at check points was still loose. Not all motorists were checked. Many motorcycles drivers were still allowed to pass even though they took passengers without masks.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Passengers queue to have their boarding permit documents authorized for limited and conditional domestic flights at Terminal 2 of Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Friday (15/5/2020). To prevent disorder, state-airport managing company PT Angkasa Pura II requires passengers to queue while following physical distancing measures. The Transportation Ministry requires all passengers who travel by aircraft to have a health certificate to show they are COVID-19 negative, as a health protocol established by the Covid-19 Task Force.

Earlier, on Thursday morning, crowds were also seen in the Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten. Indonesian Ombudsman member Alvin Lie said the crowds at Soekarno-Hatta Airport occurred due to weak preparation and coordination among the parties in charge, including authorities and the airport operator, air navigation service providers and airlines. "The airport authority, as the forefront of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has the tasks to oversee, manage and coordinate all the activities at the airport," he said.

Also read: Easing Social Restrictions Needs Caution

The airport should know beforehand the number of the passengers who would fly. So, they can set up a queue system, and prepare security officers, and inspection officers.

Airlines must limit the number of passengers to 50 percent of the total seating capacity.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, the Transportation Ministry through regulation No. 18 of 2020 has established a physical distancing policy for air passengers. Airlines must limit the number of passengers to 50 percent of the total seating capacity. However, there were aircraft carrying passengers above the limit due to the lack of control, Alvin said.

Transportation Ministry Civil Aviation Director General Novie Riyanto said that his office was still discussing the results of the ministry’s investigation into the buildup of passengers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

People caught not wearing masks during the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) are asked to take a Covid-19 rapid test at the Pinang district office, Tangerang City, Banten, Friday (15/5/2020). Many people are still not wearing masks when they are outside their homes. Besides being asked to undergo a Covid-19 rapid test, people caught violating PSBB rules, are also asked to sign a statement saying they will not to repeat their actions and are willing to accept social sanctions if they are found to violate the rules again.

Meanwhile, the president director of airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, Muhammad Awaluddin, said in a statement that his office had rearranged the queue system and limited flight frequency to ensure that the 50 percent limit on aircraft seating capacity would not be violated.

Related parties also agreed to reduce the flight frequency to between five to seven flights per hour, so that the flights would not accumulate at certain hours, he said. Despite the social restrictions, there are about 200 flights every day at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

People caught not wearing masks during the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) are asked to take a Covid-19 rapid test at the Pinang district office, Tangerang City, Banten, Friday (15/5/2020). Many people are still not wearing masks when they are outside their homes. Besides being asked to undergo a Covid-19 rapid test, people caught violating PSBB rules, are also asked to sign a statement saying they will not to repeat their actions and are willing to accept social sanctions if they are found to violate the rules again.

Academic and clinical practitioners from the University of Indonesia, Ari Fahrial Syam, said the easing of social restrictions was not consistent with the government’s commitment to limit the movement of people. The social restrictions were violated in a number of sectors.

"There is a loophole for the people to carry out activities despite the PSBB. Some people are still working, doing activities for various reasons, and cannot follow the PSBB optimally," said the dean of the Medical School at the University of Indonesia.

Epidemiological studies

The government has promised that it would study the data on the progress of the handling of COVID-19 before deciding to ease the PSBB and allow the people to resume their activities. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said on Friday that "We must be very careful. Don\'t make incorrect decisions. But, we also have to look at the circumstances of the people affected by layoffs and the condition of people who have lost their livelihoods. This must be considered. "

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

People wait their turn to collect cash assistance from the Social Affairs Ministry at the Padang post office, Padang, West Sumatra, Friday (15/5/2020). The distribution of aid at a number of Padang post offices ignored the rule of requiring people to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters to prevent Covid-19 transmission.

The head of the COVID-19 task force, Doni Monardo, said the task force would seriously follow the instruction of the President to carry out a thorough assessment before deciding to gradually ease the social restrictions. At present, the task force is conducting an epidemiological study, which involves 75 experts who assess a number of aspects and prepare the preconditions before the gradual easing of the social restrictions. The aspects examined and studied include data related to the number of new cases, people’s compliance with social and physical distancing measures and the experience of regional heads in crisis management.

The data on new cases, according to Doni, will be the key in determining whether the infection curve is flattening or not. The thorough studies will determine when the gradual easing of the social restrictions will be carried out, which economic sectors can resume again, and what kinds of the security protocols can be implemented.

Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto, said the number of new cases recorded on May 15, 2020, reached 490 cases, increasing the total confirmed cases to 16,496 cases, found in 383 regencies/cities in 34 provinces.

Meanwhile, the number of the deaths increased by 33 people, bringing the death toll to 1,076 people. "The confirmed cases of COVID-19 are still increasing. The affected districts and cities are widening and expanding. It indicates that the transmission still occurs in the community," he said.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Members of the joint teams from the Depok city police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Depok city transportation office, stop and reprimand motorcyclists caught violating large-scale social restriction (PSBB) rules on Jl. Siliwangi, Pancoran Mas, Depok, Friday (15/5/2020).

Yurianto said each region must continue efforts to reduce new cases and the death due to COVID-19. This applies both to both areas that implement and do not implement the PSBB measures. (CAS/NMP/TAN/DIV/FRD/MKN/INA)