4 more weeks of social constraints for Jakarta as Indonesia's COVID-19 cases near 7,500
23 April, 2020
Jakarta's administration might extend wide-scale social limitations by four weeks as the quantity of Indonesia's COVID-19 circumstances approached 7,500 on Wednesday (Apr 22).
Closures of non-necessary workplaces and schools in the Indonesian capital to curb further pass on of the coronavirus might continue until May 22, said governor Anies Baswedan found in a press conference.
The restrictions came into influence on Apr 10 and was set to get rid of on Friday.
Separately, Indonesia reported 283 latest COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, taking the full total number of cases to 7,418, a health and wellbeing ministry official said.
The official, Achmad Yurianto, said there were 19 new coronavirus deaths, taking the full total to 635 - the highest in Southeast Asia.
More than 47,300 people have already been tested and 913 had recovered, he added.
Baswedan called for "self-discipline" among the Jakarta open public as there were cases of mass gathering and non-essential companies operating before two weeks.
"If we wish the pandemic to come to be over quickly, everyone must cooperate and strive to get disciplined to follow (the social constraints)," said the governor.
He added that the limitations are being extended predicated on "the opinions of authorities in infectious diseases".
Going forward, authorities will enhance enforcement efforts in those that flout the restrictions, spending particular focus on businesses who've been looking meant for "loopholes" to keep operating, said Baswedan.
"Enough time for (open public) advisory and education is over. It is now time for enforcement."
Errant businesses may have their premises sealed, and even have their licences revoked if indeed they do not heed original warnings, he added.
Asked about residents who are still not getting school funding promised by the federal government, Baswedan acknowledged that "various" have not received support and said that the authorities remain attempting to distribute it.
A benefit well worth 3.5 million rupiah (US$215) over a four-month period provides been rolled out through a nationwide pre-employment card programme.
The governor also reiterated a ban on Indonesia's traditional gross annual exodus of people time for their home villages towards the end of the Muslim fasting month in-may.
President Joko Widodo in Tuesday said Indonesia will ban "mudik", or exodus, which normally sees persons streaming out of places every year after Ramadan.
Health experts had warned that allowing millions found in the world's biggest Muslim-majority country to visit could hasten the pass on of COVID-19.
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