Authorities: People Misinterpret 'New Normal' Term

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) saw the people's discipline in the implementation of Covid-19 health measures during the transitional PSBB, or social restriction, were highly decreased.

According to the capital's Satpol PP Chief Arifin, people's negligence in wearing a face mask, maintaining physical distance, and washing hands regularly, was due to their misinterpretation of the 'new normal' term.

"The new normal term should be revised since many people thought that as if the condition has returned to normal," Arifin told Tempo on Saturday, July 18.

He viewed that the wrong interpretation of the "new normal" affected the people's discipline in implementing health protocols as Satpol PP officers found that health measures' violation was rising during the period of relaxed social restriction.

In addition, the people's mobility in the city was also high as the social and economic activities are relaxed even though it was set under 50 percent capacity.

Previously, only 11 business sectors that were allowed to operate, now, all sectors have nearly opened. "This creates a rise in violation."

During the first phase of the transitional PSBB from June 5 until July 16, the authorities had imposed sanction to 27,710 people for not wearing masks in public places. Of the number, 1,862 were fined Rp250,000 per individual. Meanwhile, 25,845 of them were sanctioned with social activities such as cleaning out the road.

Read: Epidemiologist Slams Govt's Use of 'New Normal' Term

Imam Hamdi