Jakarta Car-free Day Stays on Schedule amid COVID-19 Fears

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Transportation Agency Head Syafrin Liputo said the city administration would still hold the car-free day program amid concerns of the spread of the new coronavirus or known as COVID-19. He opined the program aimed at improving air quality.

“The public space can be used for exercising,” said Syafrin at the City Hall Jakarta, Friday, March 6.

Earlier, Jakarta Investment Agency and the one-stop integrated service (PTSP) agency decided to suspend the issuance of permits for events that potentially gathered large crowds in a bid to prevent the transmission of the virus.

“So such mass gatherings are prohibited during CFD,” Syafrin underlined.

The public, he went on, were still allowed to use Jalan Jenderal Sudirman-MH Thamrin for exercise from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. To detect and prevent the potential spread of the virus, the Transportation Agency is coordinating with the Health Agency to provide body thermal screenings in several points, including the HI Roundabout, Sarinah, Bundaran Air Mancur, Dukuh Atas, Ratu Plaza, and Taman Budaya.

Until Thursday, March 4, at 6 p.m., the number of people placed under observation in Jakarta amounted to 34 people. Health Agency official Ani Ruspitawati said they were being treated at the coronavirus referral hospital.

“The other 49 people who were observed have been discharged as they tested negative for the COVID-19 and are in healthy condition,” said Ani at the City Hall Jakarta, Friday, March 6.

Additionally, the Jakarta COVID-19 response team has monitored 267 people who potentially contracted the novel coronavirus—127 of them are still being observed, and the rest 140 people have passed the monitoring period.

IMAM HAMDI