1,172 Traditional Market Traders in Indonesia Contract COVID-19
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20 July 2020 15:22 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Market Traders Association (IKAPPI) recorded 1,172 positive COVID-19 cases at 201 traditional markets throughout 83 regencies or cities of 26 Indonesia’s provinces.
“This condition encourages IKAPPI to be more active in educating the danger of COVID-19 at traditional markets and pushes us to raise awareness together with traders and visitors,” said the head of IKAPPI central executive board, Muhammad Ainun Najib, in a written statement on Monday, July 20.
Based on the data gathered by the association in the past week, Ainun said the rising number of positive infections among traders was attributable to the massive rapid and swab tests held at traditional markets across the country. A total of 37 traders succumbed to the illness, he mentioned.
“That is a hard hit and a motivation for us to work harder, be more active, and more progressive in disseminating the health protocols at markets while educating the danger of COVID-19 by using their language at the same time, “ Ainun added.
Therefore, IKAPPI urged regional governments pay more attention to traditional markets, arguing that they should issue policies to protect traders and visitors from the novel coronavirus threats.
Read: IKAPPI Records Rising Number of Traders Contracting COVID-19
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