In anticipation of fresh clusters, rapid tests would be conducted at Bedeng Kemayoran/Cempaka Wangi Market in Harapan Mulya neighborhood, and Nangka Market in Utan Panjang neighborhood, head of Kemayoran Subdistrict Health Center, Buana, said here on Friday.
The mass COVID-19 tests are needed because 14 merchants at Serdang Market have recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease, Buana said, adding that he has requested rapid test kits from Jakarta's COVID-19 Task Force.
Mass testing can help identify people who do not show any symptoms, or are asymptomatic, so that new COVID-19 clusters do not appear, Buana said.
On June 3, 2020, the Kemayoran Health Center's paramedics held a mass COVID-19 test, screening 180 merchants at the Serdang Market. As per the test results, as of Friday (June 12, 2020), 14 of the 180 merchants have showed COVID-19 symptoms.
Five of the 14 merchants, who reside in the Kemayoran Subdistrict, are currently being treated at the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital, while seven others are receiving treatment from a health center near their home.
Two other infected merchants come from Pekalongan city in Central Java Province, and they are being handled by the city's health authority, Buana said.
In East Jakarta, 20 merchants at the Perumnas Klender Market have also contracted COVID-19. Therefore, East Jakarta Mayor M. Anwar has requested the city market operator to shut down the market temporarily.
The Jakarta provincial government has decided on a transitional period, starting from June 5, 2020, during which business activities can gradually resume, under strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
Ahead of the transition period, firefighters sprayed disinfectants 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 the traditional markets from contracting the deadly viral infection or transmitting it to others.
Firefighters sprayed disinfectant fluid in several traditional markets, including Perumnas Klender, where 20 merchants have contracted the disease, Pondok Bambu, Sawah Barat, Duren Sawit, Kramat Jati, and Cipinang Kebembem.
A mass disinfection drive has also been conducted in the traditional markets of Pulogadung, Bidadari, Kampung Ambon, Enjo, Ujung Menteng, Cakung, Pramuka, Matraman, Pal Meriam, Rawamangun, Sunan Giri, and Kayu Jati.
Jakarta has officially been declared a COVID-19-affected area, 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 before spreading to over 202 countries and territories, including Indonesia, with a massive spike in death toll. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Livia K, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
