Adhere to Health Protocols during Holidays

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Visitors watch a paraglider in Puncak, Bogor regency, West Java, on Sunday (13/9/2020). Puncak has been crowded with visitors during the weekends despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the increasing number of cases. Holiday crowds have the potential to spread the coronavirus.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — People’s mobility is expected to increase sharply during the upcoming long weekend. Crowds are also expected at the planned rallies against the Job Creation Law, which was recently passed by the House of Representatives (DPR).

Coordinating Legal, Political and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has asked all parties to anticipate a potential increase in Covid-19 transmission during the holiday.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Tito Karnavian, through Circular Number 440/5876 / SJ concerning anticipation of the spread of Covid-19 during holidays and collective leave, has asked all regional heads to appeal to their citizens not to go out of town next week.

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The holidays will begin on Wednesday until Sunday. The government has declared 28 Oct. and 30 Oct. collective leave days. Sandwiched between those dates is Prophet Muhammad’s birthday on Oct. 29, another public holiday.

However, people are expected to begin traveling early next week. The traffic director of the Jakarta Police, Sr. Comr. Sambodo Purnomo Yogo, said on Friday (23/10) that the city police would deploy 500 personnel to guard the street protests expected to be held on Wednesday to coincide with the commemoration of the Youth Pledge Day. The Jakarta Police will also deploy 749 personnel to monitor traffic in Greater Jakarta.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi predicted that traffic during the holidays would reach its peak on 28 October. He appealed to the public not to travel on that day in order to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

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According to Budi, traffic congestion could occur in three locations, namely on roads from the Jakarta to the east (West Java, Central Java, and East Java), at ports to Sumatra, and at airports. "We predict there will be an increase in movements of people and vehicles by between 10 and 20 percent," he said.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Cars queue in Puncak, Bogor regency, West Java, on Sunday (13/9/2020). Puncak has been crowded with visitors during the weekends despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the increasing number of cases. Holiday crowds have the potential to spread the coronavirus.

Sambodo said the police had prepared 15 security posts for the long holidays. At least 10 posts have been deployed on toll roads, namely the Jakarta-Cikampek, Jagorawi and Jakarta-Merak toll roads. The rest are in Jakarta, Bekasi City and Bekasi regency.

The police have also prepared “traffic engineering scenarios “ (rerouting) on toll roads. If the traffic density on certain toll roads is high, a counter flow system will be implemented. He also said the Jakarta police would add security posts at tourist attractions if needed.

Preparation

The head of Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta, Ketut Widarada, said that no special preparations had been made to welcome the long holidays next week because the zoo had to maintain the limit of the number of visitors to a maximum of 2,000 people per day. Before the pandemic, the number of visitors reached 8,000 people per day on weekdays and increased five-fold on holidays.

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Ragunan zoo prohibits non-Jakarta residents from visiting. Pregnant women, residents over 60 years and under 9 years are also not allowed to enter the zoo even if they are residents of Jakarta.

KOMPAS/MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

A group of students give a theatrical performance in front of the West Java Legislative Council (DPRD) Office in Bandung on Tuesday (6/10/2020). The performance, held in protest to the Job Creation Law, was attended by thousands of students.

Meanwhile, the deputy mayor of Bogor, Dedie A. Rachim, said the city administration would closely monitor people’s adherence to health protocols especially those visiting tourist attractions in the city starting Monday (26/10). In addition, his office will also follow the instructions of the head of the national Covid-19 task force, Doni Monardo, to carry out rapid tests and swab tests before and after the holidays.

Meanwhile, the Bogor regency government has prohibited the renting of villas in the Puncak area next weekend. The head of the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) of Bogor regency, Asep Agus Ridho, said the villas could only be used by the owners. The prohibition on villa rental is based on Bogor Regent Decree No. 443/450/Kpts/Per-UU/2020.

In addition, hotels must limit guest numbers to 60 percent of normal capacity. "The number of visitors in Puncak will be limited to 50 percent," he said.

He appealed to residents of Depok, Jakarta and surrounding cities to refrain from traveling to Puncak.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said earlier that no travel restrictions had been enforced. However, limitations will be imposed if visitor numbers exceed the capacity. He appealed to residents of Depok, Jakarta and surrounding cities to refrain from traveling to Puncak. The Jakarta administration has also made a similar appeal.

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The acting regent of Karawang, Yerry Yanuar, said Friday that Karawang was an industrial city that had many migrant workers from other regions. "Even if they have to return to their hometowns, they must be alert and always avoid crowds," he said.

In the city of Bandung and in Lampung, local governments have also imposed a limitation on the number of guests at hotels and visitors at tourist areas to a maximum of 50 percent of capacity. The restriction policy has also accompanied by tight controls at the entrance to each tourist attraction and the spraying of disinfectants at public facilities.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The police monitor students protesting the ratification of the Job Creation Law on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta on Friday (16/10/2020) evening.

In Bali, the head of the Tourism Office, e I Putu Astawa, said the provincial and district/city governments together with the tourism association had ensured all tourism related businesses would implement health protocols during the long holidays. "The government urges the public to keep healthy and to ensure that visitors are free from the risk of the disease transmission," he said. (JOG/GIO/TAM/RTG/MEL/VIO/COK)