Jakarta to Impose Fine on People Refusing to Be Tested for COVID-19
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14 October 2020 16:16 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta residents who refuse to undergo a rapid, PCR, or swab test for COVID-19 will be fined Rp5 million, said Judistira Hermawan, a member of the city council's legislation body (Bapemperda). The sanction is noted in the Regional Regulation Draft on the virus mitigation.
“It (the fine) is only aimed at bringing a deterrent effect, instead of collecting money,” said Judistira on Wednesday, October 14, 2020.
The bill proposed by the Jakarta Provincial Government also regulates sanctions for people who forcibly carry off the bodies of dead patients classified as probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases from hospitals at Rp7.5 million.
According to Judistira, the regulation draft also stipulates the maximum fine of Rp50 million and six months of imprisonment. However, he claimed, the sanction implementation will not reach the maximum figure as it only aimed to bring a deterrent effect.
The draft of the regional regulation has been completely deliberated by the Jakarta Legislative Council and the Provincial Government. Judistira said the bill will be enacted in a plenary meeting next week.
Judistira hoped the Home Affairs Ministry would evaluate the draft this week. “I think this is an emergency. The Home Affairs Ministry will also work quickly to review it,” he said.
Read: Swab Test Is Free for People Presenting COVID-19 Symptoms: Jakarta
ADAM PRIREZA
