Beware of Transmission in Jakarta’s Public Spaces

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

People gather at the Alun-alun Utara area, Yogyakarta City, Sunday (14/6/2020). Many visited the Alun-alun Utara area despite the Covid-19 outbreak.

The reopening of public spaces in Jakarta, such as city parks, malls, shopping centers and markets, requires the adoption of strict health protocols that must be obeyed by residents.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — On Monday (15/6/2020), the transitional phase of the large-scale social restrictions in Jakarta saw more reopening of public spaces, such as markets, malls and shopping centers. Previously, starting on Saturday (13/6), 16 city parks and tourist attractions were opened. The provincial administration of Jakarta and the managements will ensure shopping centers implement strict health protocols.

Nevertheless, the potential for the emergence of new transmission clusters in public spaces remains large. The reason is, according to Kompas\'s observation, during the two-week transition period there were still many people who did not implement health protocols in public spaces that were reopened, such as food stalls, markets and outdoor sports arenas.

Read also: New Cases Continue to Increase

Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) also considers Indonesia as having not fulfilled the conditions set by the agency to move toward a new normal. The conditions include, among others, that virus transmissions are under control, there is adequate health system capacity, the risk of transmission is minimized in high-prone areas and there is optimal involvement of the people.

University of Indonesia Public Health Faculty epidemiologist Pandu Riono said that easing social restrictions in public spaces could lead to a new cluster of Covid-19 transmission. This is because relaxation of social restrictions certainly increases the risk of transmission and this has been proven in several countries. "Can it be a new cluster? Yes, it Can. However, this, can and must be prevented," said Pandu on Sunday (14/6).

He analogized the easing of the social restrictions to a person riding a motorcycle. The motorcyclist can fall, get injured or even die. However, by taking safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet, injuries can be minimized. Therefore, residents can also prevent the transmission of Covid-19 by being disciplined in wearing face masks, washing hands routinely and maintaining a safe physical distance.

On Sunday, according to a government spokesman for Covid-19 affairs, Achmad Yurianto, there were an additional 857 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 taking the total number to 38,277 people. Meanwhile, the number of patients who have recovered has increased by 755, bringing the total to 14,351. The number of Covid-19 patients who have died increased by 43 people, bringing the total to 2,134 people.

Health protocol

This Monday, the Jakarta provincial administration will reopen markets, malls and shopping centers (food and non-food). This is in accordance with the schedule of the first phase of the transition set by the Jakarta provincial administration.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

People ride bicycles on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, Sunday (14/6/2020). The easing of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) to enter the new normal transition period has been used by residents for activities outside the home. The increased movement of people should follow the issuance of health protocols to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

The reopening of markets, malls and shopping centers is a follow up of the transition period that has been carried out since the first week and the second week of June. Previously, the Jakarta provincial administration had opened, among others, houses of worship, public transportation, offices, restaurants and app-based motorcycle taxis.

On Saturday (13/6) afternoon, Jakarta deputy governor Ahmad Riza Patria along with South Jakarta Mayor Marullah Mata\'ali, members of the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) as well as the executive board of the Jakarta Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI) inspected the Kota Kasablanka Mall and Pondok Indah Mall. The visit was conducted to ensure that shopping centers/malls in Jakarta implement health protocols and also implement the first phase transition regulations.

Read also: Preventing a Bigger Outbreak in Regions

"We have issued various policies. It is hoped that all sides will be obedient and compliant in helping the Covid-19 protocols to be carried out well," Ahmad Riza said in an official statement.

The Jakarta provincial administration has also opened 16 city parks and tourist attractions in Jakarta on Saturday. City park managers are limiting the number of visitors. This is done to facilitate physical distancing and controlling the activity of visitors, who are also required to wear face masks. The first phase will run until June 28.

In order to limit visits, Lapangan Banteng Park in Central Jakarta, only permits access from the south side of the park. The security coordinator of Lapangan Banteng Park, Mufti Rizal Siregar, said that the number of visitors was limited to only 200 people. "The quota is in line with the government regulation to limit the number of visitors to 50 percent of capacity," said Mufti.

In preparation

APPBI chairman Ellen Hidayat said a total of 80 malls and ITC trade centers that are members of APPBI were preparing to reopen their trading activities with health protocol in place.

Stalls and booth tenants, according to Ellen, were allowed to operate again, except for cinemas, fitness centers, children\'s play areas, shopping centers and karaoke bars. While barber shops are permitted to give haircuts, other treatments are not permitted.

Shopping malls Central Park and Neo Soho assistant marketing communication and relations general manager Silviyanti Dwi Aryati said that everyone who wanted to enter Central Park and Neo Soho malls was required to wear a face mask. In addition to regular cleaning at the malls, an innovation was also made by installing a smart elevator button so that now choosing floor numbers can be done without touching the button.

Tenants and Retailers Association Advisory Board member Tutum Rahanta said the reopening of shopping centers and retail outlets in the middle of the pandemic would not immediately result in a surge in visitors. In some countries, the flow of people visiting shopping malls after total closure has not immediately increased.

Several merchants at Thamrin City shopping mall welcomed the reopening of the shopping center.

Several merchants at Thamrin City shopping mall welcomed the reopening of the shopping center. Anas, the owner of the Padang food stall Bang Ndut Anas was preparing his ingredients yesterday.

"It is hoped the economy will recover. I get a headache at home," he said. He added he had been unemployed since his shop closed on April 10.

Nevertheless, store workers are anxious about the opening of shopping centers. Eko, 29, an employee at a smart phone shop at ITC Kuningan, said he was worried about Covid-19 transmission. "I\'m actually still worried even though it\'s only open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The problem is, when I watch television it says the Covid-19 cases in Jakarta are still high," said Eko.

Not disciplined

Based on Kompas’ observation on Saturday and Sunday, many people were still not disciplined about implementing the health protocols.

Read also: Urbanites Learning Discipline for New Normal

A number of coffee shops and food stalls on Jl. Sabang, Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central

Jakarta and Kemang, South Jakarta, have been flooded with customers even though the pandemic is not over. Some of them sat with no physical distance and their body temperature was not checked before entering the room.

A number of temporary markets in the East Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten and Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, also have not yet implemented strict health protocols. Some sellers and buyers did not wear masks and they opened stalls without physical distancing measures.

The public’s ignorance of health protocols was also evidenced by the number of people who exercised at the Bung Karno sports complex. In front of the entrance, there is a health protocol warning sign, which states that people must wear masks and keep a minimum distance of 2 meters. However, many people were not wearing face masks. (ERK/SHR/DIV/DAN/ DVD/LKT/BKY)