The people's mobility must be restricted seriouslyJakarta (ANTARA) - A senior legislator has lauded the Indonesian Government's decision to enforce large-scale social restrictions and distancing measures in Jakarta to break the chain of coronavirus transmission in the capital, which has recorded 133 deaths.
The restrictions announced by Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto for Jakarta on Tuesday are expected to accelerate the nation’s efforts to curb the spread of the deadly virus, said Saleh Partaonan Daulay, a member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR), which is overseeing health and workforce issues.
"To make sure this status gets enforced effectively, all necessary measures must be prepared well," he added.
The government must consistently enforce the law against those found hanging out or venturing out for unnecessary reasons at a time when people have been advised to stay at home, he stated. In addition, the government must also secure the city's entry and exit gates to impose travel restrictions, he advised.
"The people's mobility must be restricted seriously," he reiterated adding, Jakartans must only step out for necessities such as food, energy, and communication.
Security personnel deployed to enforce the large-scale social distancing measures must adopt a humanistic approach, but, at the same time, firmly enforce legal sanctions against those found violating the status, he advised.
The large-scale social restrictions status, which took effect on Tuesday, will be implemented during the longest incubation period, and may be extended in case of COVID-19 spread.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan had proposed large-scale social distancing to the health minister in a letter dated April 1, 2020.
A similar proposal for large-scale social distancing in the capital was also submitted by the executive chief of the COVID-19 Response Task Force in a letter dated April 5, 2020.
The coronavirus disease initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019. Since then, it has spread to several countries across the globe, including Indonesia, prompting the World Health Organization to declare it a global pandemic.
Jakarta is the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia. According to the website corona jakarta.go.id, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the capital have risen to 1,395 as of 11.50 a.m. on Tuesday, with 133 patients succumbing to the disease and 69 patients making a full recovery. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Dewanto S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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