Obey Health Protocols

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Long lines of KRL commuter train passengers are seen at Bogor Station, Bogor city, West Java, Monday (8/6/2020). A number of workers and economic actors from the Greater Bogor region began to leave for Jakarta because a number of offices and economic activities began to open during the Transitional Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) in Jakarta. Due to the limited number of the trains due to the imposition of a limited number of means of transportation results in the long lines with close distances among people at a number of stations through which the trains pass. The line at Bogor Station itself was seen from 5 a.m. until 9 a.m.

People in Greater Jakarta have returned to their offices using public transportation. This must be accompanied with the strict adherence to health protocols.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Economic activity in the capital has resumed as thousands of people returned to their offices on Monday (8/6/2020), in line with the start of the city’s transitional large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) period toward the new normal on Friday last week.

Before, the Jakarta administration imposed stricter PSBB policies, marked with widespread bans on non-essential activities.

Read also: Preventing a Bigger Outbreak in Regions

On Monday, long lines were seen at Bogor train station in West Java from 5:30 a.m. Thousands of people, adhering to social distancing rules, lined up to enter the station platforms and into the commuter Line trains. Almost everyone that morning was on their way to work in Jakarta.

“Maintain physical distance, observe the red lines,” the train station officers shouted in the hope that passengers remained orderly and observed the station’s physical distancing lines.

During the transitional PSBB period, commuter line train service is available from 4 a.m. (departing from Bogor station) to 9 p.m. (departing from Jakarta Kota station). During the PSBB period, the train service was available from 6 a.m. (departing from Bogor station) to 6 p.m. (departing from Jakarta Kota station).

Headway is maximized, especially during morning and afternoon peak hours.

With longer service hours, the number of commuter line daily trips has increased from 784 to 983. Headway is maximized, especially during morning and afternoon peak hours. In Bogor, for instance, headway during peak hours is five minutes, with 124 trips at morning and 126 trips in the afternoon.

PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) vice president corporate communications Anne Purba said 140,000 train riders and 150,000 people had tapped into stations as of Monday at 10 a.m.

Before the transitional PSBB period, there were 80,000 users at the same hour every day.

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Passengers prepare to take the KRL Commuter line to Tanah Abang Station at Rawa Buntu Station, Serpong, South Tangerang, Monday (8/6/2020) at 6:52 a.m.

35-40 percent

Anne further said that the number of passengers in each train car was adjusted in line with Transportation Ministry rules, namely 35-40 percent of full capacity, which amounted to around 74 persons. As a comparison, during the full PSBB period, each train car could only carry 60 persons.

During the transitional PSBB period, motorcycle ride-hailing service drivers can carry passengers with a separator installed. However, on Monday, a number of motorcycle taxis without such separators were seen near Palmerah train station in Jakarta. Passengers also still wore helmets provided by drivers instead of their own helmets in line with health protocols. However, many motorcycle taxi drivers and passengers were seen wearing masks.

Motorcycle ride-hailing service driver Kukuh, 29, said that the partitions had not been distributed to all drivers. Debates stirred among drivers regarding the additional equipment. Many are worried that it will affect driving safety.

Gojek chief corporate affairs Nila Marita said that the trial for Goride trips using partitions would run in several cities, including Jakarta, this week.

Masks, gloves and plastic partitions have been distributed to drivers. Grab suggested that passengers bring their own helmets.

Grab Indonesia managing director Neneng Goenadi said in a written statement that Grab had educated its driver partners on health protocols through GrabProtect. Masks, gloves and plastic partitions have been distributed to drivers. Grab suggested that passengers bring their own helmets.

Meanwhile, public minivan drivers and passengers are facing difficulties. Many minivans were still seen carrying more than five passengers, or more than 50 percent of full capacity (10 passengers).

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Traffic density is seen on Jl. Tahi Bonar Simatupang Raya, Jakarta, Monday (8/6/2020), at 8:40 a.m. Many people returned to their offices, businesses and other places of business in Jakarta as they were allowed to operate during the transition to the new normal.

East Jakarta resident Kiki, 23, complained about crowded public minivans. However, she was forced to ride one anyway, as waiting for the next one can be too long. “I have to be at the office in the morning. If I wait for the next public minivan to come, it’ll be too long,” she said.

East Jakarta driver Rachmat Aidin said that he tried to carry at least six passengers at all times to add to his income.

Office hour adjustments

Bogor Mayor Bima Arya said while inspecting Bogor Station that the number of commuter line users at the station had increased by around 10 percent. This is because companies in Jakarta have begun reopening their offices during the transitional PSBB period.

Bima said that he hoped companies in Jakarta can adjust their office hours to prevent passengers from crowding stations, including Bogor and other stations. “It is better to have dispensation for employees in Bogor to not depart at the same time,” he said.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Social distancing signs are installed on the sofa of a waiting room at a gadget service outlet in Mega Bekasi Hypermall, Bekasi city, West Java, Monday (8/6/2020). The mall has been operating according to new normal policies, including by imposing the obligation to wear masks and maintain physical distance. Some shops in the mall are also limiting the number of visitors, although the mall is still quiet.

The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), for instance, has a different work-from-office policy than the one set out in Jakarta’s Gubernatorial Regulation No. 51/2020, which requires the number of persons working in an office to not exceed 50 percent of office rooms’ full capacity. LIPI has set the maximum number of employees working at office at 20 percent of full capacity.

LIPI secretary Nur Tri Aries Suestiningtyas said that different LIPI units had different office sizes. To maintain physical distance of two meters between employees, it is better to set the maximum numbers of employees working at office at 20 percent of the room’s full capacity.

However, this is a transitional period. Several sectors have resumed activities, including offices.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said that Jakarta was still not free from Covid-19. “We are still in PSBB period. However, this is a transitional period. Several sectors have resumed activities, including offices. I remind all residents to always adhere to health protocols.

Read also: New Normal of the Economy

The National Employers Network deems that the government’s directions for businesses to remain productive while still adhering to health protocols gives new hope that economic activities can resume.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Visitors flock to a cellphone accessories shop in Mega Bekasi Hypermall, Bekasi city, West Java, even though a social distancing sign is posted on the floor on Monday (8/6/2020). The mall has been operating according to new normal policies, including by imposing the obligation to wear masks and maintain physical distance. Some shops in the mall are also limiting the number of visitors, although the mall is still quiet

On the other hand, however, there are worries regarding people’s awareness and discipline in adhering to health protocols. “Hopefully, people will understand what it means to be disciplined in adhering to health protocols,” National Employers Network chairman Bayu Priawan Djokosoetono said.

The government’s spokesperson for Covid-19-related matters, Achmad Yurianto, said Indonesia had 32,033 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 10,904 recoveries and 1,883 deaths. (SHA/GIO/FAI/DIV/HLN/TAN/DNE/CAS)