TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - Tangerang Regent Ahmed Zaki Iskandar has announced that the Large-Scale Social Restriction or PSBB in Tangerang Regency was extended until July 26, 2020.

Zaki decided to prolong the COVID-19 restrictions in order to boost the public discipline in applying the predetermined health protocols in their daily activities.

“To maintain public discipline in wearing face masks, keeping distance, and washing hands,” he told Tempo on Monday, July 13.

Zaki admitted that public discipline in the regency was still low. “Only 40 percent [of the people] abide by the COVID-19 protocols.”

Thus, he was determined to conduct massive dissemination of the dangers of the novel coronavirus and on how to cut off virus transmission.

During the previous PSBB, the local government imposes an administrative sanction against violators, such as written warning letters, social works, push-up on the spot, and a fine of Rp100,000 to Rp200,000.

With the period extension, Zaki targeted Tangerang Regency to move from the yellow zone into a green zone. “The latest data shows that Tangerang City has the highest virus infections, followed by South Tangerang and Tangerang Regency. Tangerang Regency has actually been classified as a green zone (based on the positive case rate).”

Tangerang COVID-19 mitigation task force spokesperson dr. Hendra Tarmizi confirmed that referred to the case positivity rate in Banten Province, Tangerang has now a green zone as its rate is below 5 percent.

“The positive cases in Tangerang now amount to 290, and the number keeps dropping,” Hendra added.

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JONIANSYAH HARDJONO