The first Friday in June this year marked the start of a transition period toward a new normal in many major cities, including Jakarta; Greater Tangerang in Banten; Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and Greater Bandung in West Java.
By
KOMPAS TEAM
·5 minutes read
Friday (5/6/2020) was a day of deliverance for many Indonesians, especially urbanites who had been holed up in their homes for months due to large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). The first Friday in June this year marked the start of a transition period toward a new normal in many major cities, including Jakarta; Greater Tangerang in Banten; Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and Greater Bandung in West Java; Surabaya in East Java; and Palembang in South Sumatra.
Al-Akbar Grand Mosque in Surabaya, East Java, for instance, held its first Friday prayers in weeks. Mosque secretary Helmy Noor said the mosque had gained approval from East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa for the congregational prayers.
“In line with a circular from the Religious Affairs Minister, caretakers of places of worship must adhere to health protocols. We have fulfilled all requirements,” Helmy said.
Caretakers of places of worship must adhere to health protocols.
He was referring to Religious Affairs Ministerial Circular No. 15/2020 on guidelines for religious activities in houses of worship to ensure safety and productivity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Helmy said mosque caretakers had imposed a physical distancing rule in the ablution area, provided soap in the area and restrooms, as well as prepared plastic bags for congregants to keep their footwear by their side during prayers. Furthermore, only three out of the mosque’s 45 doors were opened. Arriving congregants were required to wash their hands with soap, have their temperatures checked and go through a sterilization booth.
Three doctors and two ambulances were on standby during the prayers. Congregants, the muezzin, the preacher and the imam were required to wear masks. The preacher was told to shorten his sermon and the imam recited short verses during the prayer. Congregants were told to keep a physical distance of 2.5 meters between one another. The mosque was routinely sprayed with disinfectant. All mosque workers wore face shields and donations were collected online.
Strict protocols to cut off Covid-19 spread were also implemented at the Palembang Grand Mosque. Indonesian Military (TNI) officers, National Police personnel, local public officials and mosque workers were involved in checking all 1,500 congregants prior to Friday prayers. Those with temperatures higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius were banned from joining the prayers.
Officers warned those who tried to break rules, including filling spots that were supposed to be empty in line with physical distancing rules.
Congregant Muhammad, 26, said he was grateful to be able to join the Friday prayers. “This Friday prayer felt different. However, as we are going through a pandemic, we follow all the rules the government has set,” he said.
Muhammad said people should improve their awareness for the sake of themselves and others. “We do not want [the disease] to spread due to this prayer,” he said.
Palembang Grand Mosque Foundation chair Ki Agus Ahmad Sarnubi said the mosque had obtained approval from the local administration for the Friday prayers. Palembang city secretary Ratu Dewa said Palembang had begun its second-phase PSBB, which served as a transition toward the new normal.
In Bandung, West Java Deputy Governor Uu Ruzhanul Ulum held a video conference with 59 Islamic boarding school leaders and mass organization representatives to discuss health protocols for Islamic boarding schools, as part of new normal protocols.
Uu said he had proposed 10 health protocols, including providing hygiene facilities, such as wash basins, disinfectant equipment and isolation wards.
However, some of the Islamic boarding school leaders said that they could not fulfill all the requirements, especially providing test kits and covering testing fee. Uu said that the administration would find solution so that the agreed protocols could be implemented in all Islamic boarding schools.
Separately, East Java Governor Khofifah said that her administration had approved mosques to hold congregational prayers. However, the Surabaya Diocese, which holds authority over Catholic churches in East Java, including 44 parishes and around 160,000 worshippers, said that it would maintain virtual worships for the time being. Surabaya Diocese vicar general RD Eko Budi Susilo said that the time was not right for congregational masses at churches.
In Surabaya Diocese’s Pastoral V signed by Surabaya bishop Mgr Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono, in line with suggestions from various parties and through observing latest situations, church masses would remain virtual until further notice.
Surabaya, Sidoarjo and Gresik are still under third-phase PSBB until Monday (8/6). The local PSBB has been in effect since Tuesday (28/4) due to high level of Covid-19 spread in Surabaya, Sidoarjo and Gresik.
Online sales
Beyond religious worships, hundreds of vegetable farmers in Lembang, West Bandung regency, continue using online platform to sell their harvest yields.
“The online system is a solution to capture marketing opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Lembang Agri farmers groups association (Gapoktan) head Dodih said after the virtual launching of jualsayuran.com website and mobile application in Bandung on Friday.
The services enable customers to buy various vegetables, such as celery, eggplant, paprika, broccoli, tomato, carrot, spinach, shallot, green bean and chili pepper. Orders can be made through WhatsApp.
The online system is a solution to capture marketing opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Established in 2008, Gapoktan Lembang Agri now have 235 farmers managing 100 hectares of farm in Cikidang village, Lembang, around 18 kilometers north of Bandung. In 2015, the association transformed into a micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) under the guidance of Bank Indonesia’s West Java representative office.
Office chief Herawanto said the Covid-19 pandemic had changed people’s behavior, including in the accelerated use of innovative digital technology in various sectors. “We hope this can serve as example and opportunity for MSME revival,” he said.