TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Crowds have continued to gather on a number of Yogyakarta streets, carrying on with their activity despite government warnings of physical distancing, in order to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.

The city's Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, in a written message, asked his people not to be selfish and to maintain the spirit of mutual cooperation in the fight against the pandemic.

“As can be seen lately, crowds have begun to gather on the streets compared to a few weeks ago. I advise (the people) to always be vigilant in facing the COVID-19 pandemic," the Sultan said through a written message, spread through the regional government’s social media, on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

Furthermore, the Sultan has also asked the people to control their needs of going outdoors more wisely. “The Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), the National Military (TNI) and the police force continue to be on the streets, as I have asked to maximize control,” he added.

Chief of the Yogyakarta Public Order Agency Noviar Rahmad revealed that 311 crowd gatherings have been disbanded throughout the COVID-19 emergency response period. “Crowds have been disbanded as one of the efforts to anticipate the transmission of the pandemic,” Noviar said, on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

The city is focusing on three programs during the COVID-19 emergency response period. These include the spraying of disinfectants in public places, the increased amount of night and morning patrols to disband any crowd gatherings, as well as the monitoring of students who should study at home.

In addition, the public can also report crowd gatherings in violation of physical distancing through telephone number 0274-5021060.

As of Thursday, April 16, spokesperson for the Yogyakarta COVID-19 Task Force Berty Murtiningsih stated that the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in the city has reached 63 people, with 600 patients under monitoring (PDP) and 144 people still undergoing treatment.

PRIBADI WICAKSONO | Translator: DIO SUHENDA (Intern)