TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The temporary closure of Tanah Abang wholesale market as a preventive measure in limiting the spread of Covid-19 or coronavirus transmission has affected many, including the businesses, porters, and even public transports in the area.

Several sellers at the biggest market in Southeast Asia hope the market will soon be reopened so the activities there can return to normal.

"Well, there’s an ease in paying installment for online ojek drivers, while there’s no such policy for us. The solution is to keep the market open so the business can go on to make ends meet," said one of Muslim clothing sellers in Block A of Tanah Abang who is affected by the pandemic, Irwandrik, on Friday, March 27.

Meanwhile, Indah, a food seller at Block G whose store remains open, wishes that the Covid-19 crisis will soon end so the market activities can return to normal. "I hope this will end soon, we’re afraid the staple price will increase, especially since Ramadan is coming," she said.

Jakarta market operator Pasar Jaya previously closed three Tanah Abang blocks; Block A, B, and F for one week, starting on Friday, March 27, until Sunday, April 5, while in Block G, market activities are limited to foodstuff sellers only.

This is done in a bid to reduce the crowd of people in public space as a preventive measure to curb Covid-19 transmission.

“We temporarily stop market activities as one of the ways to prevent coronavirus transmission as per March 27 until April 5,” said Pasar Jaya CEO Arief Nasrudin on Thursday, March 26.

ANTARA