If there is no way out, we are going to report the condition to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. Let the sub-district heads and neighborhood or city mayor become the market's head
Jakarta (ANTARA) - East Jakarta Mayor M. Anwar spoke of having put forth a request to the city market operator to shut down the Perumnas Klender Market after 20 of its merchants contracted the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Anwar also voiced his willingness to take over the market's management if the operator was unable to apply the healthcare protocols to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If there is no way out, we are going to report the condition to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. Let the sub-district heads and neighborhood or city mayor become the market's head," he told journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The mayor made the statement in response to the journalists' query on the reason behind the Jakarta market operator PD Pasar Jaya not closing the Perumnas Klender market after 20 of its traders contracted COVID-19 based on their recent swab test results.

Anwar responded by confirming to the fact that he did, in fact, request the market operator to shut down the market temporarily and enforce stringent COVID-19 protocols to protect both merchants and customers from human-to-human transmission.

The Jakarta provincial government has decided on a transitional period, starting from June 5, during which business activities can gradually resume under strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols.

Ahead of the transition period, Jakarta's firefighters sprayed disinfectant at 31 traditional markets in the capital city's eastern parts to stem the transmission of COVID-19.

The disinfectant was sprayed to help prevent traders and buyers in those traditional markets from contracting the deadly virus infection or transmitting it to others.

The firefighters sprayed the disinfectant fluid in traditional markets, including in Perumnas Klender, where 20 merchants had contracted the disease, Pondok Bambu, Sawah Barat, Duren Sawit, Kramat Jati, and Cipinang Kebembem.

The mass disinfection drive was also conducted in the traditional markets of Pulogadung, Bidadari, Kampung Ambon, Enjo, Ujung Menteng, Cakung, Pramuka, Matraman, Pal Meriam, Rawamangun, Sunan Giri, and Kayu Jati, he remarked.

Jakarta has officially been declared a COVID-19-affected area in Indonesia following the central government's confirmation of the country's first cases on March 2 this year.

Coronavirus infections initially surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019. COVID-19 has ever since spread to over 202 countries and territories, including Indonesia, with a massive spike in death toll.
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Translator: Andi F, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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