TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - North Jakarta Mayor, Sigit Wijatmoko, voiced his concern of COVID-19 transmission as many Jakarta residents continue to gather in traditional markets and disregard physical distancing, in spite of the Large Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) policy enacted in the capital.

“Crowds still gather in markets that have yet to implement health protocols," Sigit said in his written statement, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

Sigit evaluates that efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmission in traditional markets need to be done more massively. As a result, he has called for Jakarta residents to strictly adhere to health protocols when doing their activities, as the Jakarta PSBB is considered effective in curbing the outbreak.

“Based on PSBB evaluation so far, we noticed that there is a slowing down of the COVID-19 transmission rate. In spite of this, there are still some things that should be a concern and (remain) a challenge, such as market activities that continue to be busy,” he explained.

Chief of the North Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), Yusuf Majid, revealed that intense patrols are carried out in six sub-districts every day. In these patrols, Yusuf continued, officers would remind the public to comply with health protocols.

“Including the monitoring of transactions in markets that must comply with the rules,” added Yusuf.

Previously, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan had enacted the first phase of the PSBB policy in the capital on April 10 and continued for 14 days. The large-scale social restriction has been extended for 28 days onto its second phase, until May 22, in a bid to flatten the COVID-19 curve in the capital.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA | Translator: DIO SUHENDA (Intern)