Jakarta mosques spring back again to life, businesses making preparations as COVID-19 curbs ease
06 June, 2020
The Al Azhar mosque in South Jakarta was a hive of activity on Friday morning (Jun 5), with caretakers getting the house of worship prepared to stage its first Friday prayer in almost two months.
Some caretakers were seen spraying the mosque with disinfectant, covering every inch of the house together with objects that worshipers might touch.
Meanwhile, other caretakers pasted black electrical tape on the colorful rug, marking the areas where worshipers could or could not stand and sit during prayers.
“This is a joyous day,” one caretaker, Muhammad Yahya told CNA. “We are able to now perform Friday prayers once again and bring our beloved mosque back again to life.”
The day before, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan announced that although the large-scale social restrictions have been extended, they'll also be lifted in stages. The restrictions have been in place since Apr 10 to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The easing started with the reopening of places of worship on Friday, albeit with strict health protocols.
One requirement is to lessen the occupancy at places of worship by half and require worshipers to be at least one metre aside from each other.
Mosques are also necessary to conduct health checks on worshipers seeking to enter the premises.
“It is a small price to cover the fitness of everyone praying here,” Mr Yahya continued. “I am hoping people understand that we cannot allow sick or people of vulnerable age ranges like children or older people in to the mosque.”
DEALING WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOLS
The physical distancing measures imposed by the federal government meant that the key prayer hall of the Al Azhar mosque was completely occupied around 30 minutes before Friday prayer was likely to start.
Normally, at least 5,000 people would pray as of this mosque with worshipers spilling in to the courtyards below.
On Friday, there were around 2,000 worshipers present. The mosque had to start its ballroom, normally used for weddings and gatherings, to support the crowd.
As more persons came, that added capacity proved to be inadequate, triggering some worshipers to pray on the pavements and parking lot.
The Jakarta chapter of Indonesia’s most influential Islamic body, the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) had tried to avoid overcrowding in mosques by allowing Friday prayers to be conducted in two shifts, one at noon and the other, one hour later.
But the decision didn't go down well with senior clerics at the MUI’s hq, who argued that there surely is no religious basis for a Friday prayer to be performed more often than once.
MUI head office’s chief of interfaith harmony Yusnar Yusuf was quoted as saying by Indonesian media that the answer is to allow Friday prayers to be held in other areas besides the mosques, such as for example in prayer houses, halls, sports centres and stadiums.
With the top office singing a different tune, the Jakarta chapter of MUI rescinded its earlier edict. “We heard and we complied with the fatwa issued by MUI head office,” MUI Jakarta chapter chairman Munahar Muchtar said following the head office’s announcement.
BUSINESSES GEARING UP FOR MONDAY REOPENING
The Indonesian capital, notorious for its traffic jams, was still largely quiet on Friday as commercial and business districts remained shut.
Governor Anies Baswedan announced that restaurants and shops, which are not located in malls, can start catering to dine-in customers on Jun 8. Offices may also resume operations on a single day, with half of the employees continuing to home based.
Meanwhile, stores will be allowed to reopen on Jun 15, while persons can begin visiting recreational parks on Jun 21 and 22.
On Friday, several businesses said these were on the point of reopen.
“I had seen my income gone almost completely,” Mdm Nadya Asriyani, who owns a little clothing shop in Central Jakarta, told CNA.
For just two months, Mdm Asriyani had to market her outfits online but struggled to contend with more established brands.
“Before the pandemic, I possibly could earn a profit of between 2 million rupiah (US$143) to 3 million rupiah a day. But through the restrictions, there were days when I didn't sell a single little bit of clothing,” she bemoaned.
“When I heard Jakarta allows businesses to reopen, I went to my shop, tidied up the area, checked my inventory to make certain they are undamaged or mouldy and got everything ready.”
Meanwhile, Mdm Ratna Juwita, a human resource manager at a trading company said she have been busy trying to arrange which of her employees should come to any office on Monday, as the others continue to home based.
Jakarta's inner-city toll road was without its typical gridlock on June 5, 2020, three days before persons are allowed to go back to just work at their offices. (Photo: Nivell Rayda)
“There are people who prefer to home based because they count on public transportation to access work. However, additionally, there are people who rather come to any office because their web connection is not so good in the home,” she said.
Mdm Juwita said that her office can be scrambling to procure hand sanitisers and hire caterers so that employees would not need to go and eat outside.
“We must make a lot of arrangements. Our main priority is our employees’ health and wellness,” she said.
EXPERTS FEAR ANOTHER WAVE OF INFECTIONS
Mr Baswedan said the Jakarta government decided to ease the restrictions as the spread of the virus has slowed down, as indicated by the decrease in COVID-19 deaths and cases, among others.
But public health expert Dr Hermawan Saputra disagreed and said that it could too soon to help ease restrictions.
“The number of cases continues to be increasing across Indonesia. Even in Jakarta, the quantity is fluctuating. There's been a slowdown in Jakarta due to the social restrictions. However the achievements we've made could be easily undone,” Dr Saputra told CNA.
“Even with restrictions set up, there is low compliance and infractions are abound. Imagine what would happen once you ease restrictions. People who might be bored in the home might venture outdoors, clog the streets, flock to markets and let their guard down.”
Dr Adib Khumaidi, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Doctor’s Association echoed the sentiment.
“If we ease restrictions too early, another wave of infections may easily strike. Already, our healthcare system is overwhelmed. Should another wave hit, you will see many patients who go untreated. The death toll could easily rise,” he told CNA.
Mr Baswedan has said that he'd not hesitate to use the "emergency brake" and impose the restrictions again when there is a sharp rise in cases.
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