TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya), General Nana Sudjana, guarantees that Jakarta will be safe during the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB), despite the policy making a number of areas deserted and prone to criminal activities.

“Outside of this (the PSBB), we will continue to maximize security in Jakarta. In this situation, we maximize our efforts to prevent, pre-empt and repress," Nana said in a live broadcast on the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Instagram, on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

One of the measures is by increasing the duration of patrols, with help from the Indonesian Military (TNI). “So far, the repressive measures have always been on standby," added Nana.

Starting Friday, April 10, 2020, the Jakarta Provincial Government will implement the PSBB, which will be in effect for 14 days. However, the policy can be extended if the COVID-19 outbreak ceases to stop.

At present, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is still preparing the Governor's Regulation for the implementation of the large-scale social restriction.

In its implementation, the policy will restrict a number of things, including the gathering of crowds consisting more than five people, motorcycle drivers carrying a passenger, as well as the mandatory usage of masks on public transportation. In addition, offices and schools must also be closed.

The enactment of the PSBB policy in Jakarta by Governor Anies Baswedan has been due to the high percentage of COVID-19 positive cases in the capital compared to the national total.

As of today, according to official data from corona.jakarta.go.id, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has reached 2,738 and 1,552 of them centralized in Jakarta.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH | Translator: DIO SUHENDA (Intern)