Government Can Extend Social Restrictions

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Densely packed residential areas stand amidst skyscrapers in this aerial shot of Jakarta, the epicenter of Indonesia’s Covid-19 outbreak, taken on Tuesday (7/4/2020). Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto on 7 April 2020 approved large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for Jakarta, owing to the significant increase, rapid spread and local transmission of Covid-19 in the special capital region. Under Health Minister Regulation No. 9/2020 on PSBB guidelines, the social restrictions apply to schools, places of work, religious activities, activities in public spaces, mass transportation, and defense and security activities.

The Jakarta administration will officially implement large-scale social restrictions for two weeks beginning Friday. The government can extend the period of social restrictions.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Jakarta provincial administration will implement large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) starting Friday (10/4/2020). The measure will be taken following the approval of Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said on Tuesday (7/4) that the PSBB will last 14 days. The policy, which is intended to halt the spread of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, can be extended if the central government and the Jakarta government consider it necessary.

The regulations on the implementation of the PSBB are set to be issued today (Wednesday). "In principle, during the past three weeks Jakarta has implemented social restrictions by asking the people to work, study and worship at home. Now, the PSBB rules will be binding with strict sanctions that can be applied directly on the field by the police, military, or provincial government officials who patrol, "said Anies.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

An electronic traffic sign displays a message calling for motorists not to go on mudik (exodus) to “nip COVID-19 in the bud” on Tuesday (7/4/2020) at the Semanggi II tollgate in South Jakarta. The government has not banned the annual practice, during which people head to their hometowns in droves to celebrate the Idul Fitri holiday with their extended families, despite the calls from experts and activists to do so. Many regions have started imposing restrictions and quarantine measures for travelers from Jakarta, the epicenter of Indonesia’s Covid-19 outbreak, to prevent local transmission.

During the implementation of the PSBB, all types of activities involving more than five people are prohibited. Ceremonial activities, such as weddings and circumcisions, are still permitted on condition that there is no reception. Marriages can only be carried out at the religious affairs office or other authorized government agencies.

Anies said eight sectors will remain active during the PSBB besides government activities. The sectors includes health services and healthcare industry; food; energy; communication; logistics and goods distribution, which include app-based motorcycle taxi services; activities for daily necessities such as retail, grocery stores and stalls; and strategic industries.

Workers may not gather; must work with masks; and wash hands regularly.

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

People maintain physical distance in a queue to apply for the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) Tuesday (7/4/2020) at Pasar Jatinegara, Jakarta.

In addition, organizations or NGOs that are involved in handling COVID-19, such as zakat (alms) collection agencies, social, and public health organizations, are still allowed to carry out activities as long as they implement safety standards. Workers may not gather; must work with masks; and wash hands regularly.

Public transportation operational hours are limited from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The number of passengers per car and bus is a maximum of 50 percent of the existing capacity. The number of private vehicles entering Jakarta is not restricted, including conventional taxis, as long as the car does not carry many passengers. "Specifically, app-based motorcycle taxis are allowed to deliver goods because there are 105 markets that provide online shopping," Anies said.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A medical worker makes a fist pump on Tuesday (7/4/2020) at a drive-thru Covid-19 rapid testing site at Pajajaran Sports Stadium in Bogor, West Java. The rapid testing facility was installed by the Bogor Municipal Health Office for testing district-level civil servants in Bogor and field officers designated as person at risk (ODR). Around 260 civil servants, police officers and military personnel took advantage of the testing service.

Expanded

There are suggestions that the PSBB can be expanded to include not only Jakarta, but also Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek). The suggestion for the expansion of the PSBB area were made by the representative of the Indonesian Ombudsman from Jakarta, Teguh P. Nugroho and the head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Syafrin Liputo. According to Teguh, since March, the Jakarta administration has implemented social restrictions as stipulated in Government Regulation No. 21/2020 and health ministerial regulations. The restrictions include the closure of schools and tourist attractions. The governor has also appealed to all companies in Jakarta to ask their employees to work from home.

Jakarta, Banten and West Java have become the epicenters of COVID-19, Teguh said, the Jakarta representative of the Indonesian Ombudsman urged the Jakarta governor and the heads of the buffer areas to discuss restrictions on the mobility of citizens to and from Jakarta. Every region in Jabodetabek should implement the PSBB together.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

The Semanggi area of South Jakarta is quiet on Tuesday (7/4/2020), with relatively little traffic. Jakarta is the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto on 7 April 2020 approved large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for Jakarta, the epicenter of Indonesia’s Covid-19 outbreak, owing to the significant increase, rapid spread and local transmission of Covid-19 in the special capital region.

Meanwhile, Syafrin Liputo said as the traffic of people and vehicles within in Jabodetabek areas was quite high, the PSBB should be implemented in all the areas.

" It means that Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi must be seen as one entity because the movement is no longer limited by administrative areas, "he said.The Jakarta Police’s traffic office is still waiting for details on the restrictions for transportation modes during the PSBB implementation in Jakarta. However, the Jakarta Police said there will be no road restrictions to and from Jakarta. "There are no restrictions on access in and out," said the director of the highway traffic at the Jakarta police office, senior commissioner Sambodo Purnomo Yogom.

The head of the Demographic Institute of the School of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia, Turro Wongkaren emphasized the importance of maintaining access to basic needs, regardless of the availability of food and money. "It will be useless to provide cash aid to the poor if the stalls around them are closed," he said. (HLN/DNE/IGA/VAN/JOG/GIO/MTK)

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A woman wears a mask as she walks alongside a major road Tuesday (7/4/2020) in Semanggi, South Jakarta. The central government and the Jakarta administration have called on all residents of the capital city, the epicenter of Indonesia’s Covid-19 outbreak, to wear face masks when venturing outside their homes.