Despite the 30-minute time limit, he still urged people to eat at home because it is the safest place during the COVID-19 pandemic.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Governor of Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria deems a 30-minute time limit as more suitable for dining at restaurants, street and food stalls based on Ministerial Instruction No. 34 of 2021 on public activity restrictions (PPKM).
"Hence, we looked for a more appropriate time limit, and it turned out to be approximately 30 minutes," Patria noted here on Wednesday.
The deputy governor estimated that the previous time limit of 20 minutes for dining was not sufficient, especially for elders, who could not eat quickly.
"There are elders who cannot eat fast like young people, so we studied how long the time limit should be for dine-ins," he noted.
Despite the 30-minute time limit, he urged people to eat at home since it is the safest place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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As for workers at the office, he encouraged them to pack their own food and not eat together.
"Please avoid crowding while eating. (The office workers) should sit separately in their own rooms or desks," he emphasized.
Earlier, the central government extended the PPKM policy until August 23, 2021.
Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian issued Ministerial Instruction No. 34 of 2021 on level 4, 3, and 2 PPKM in the Java and Bali islands.
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One of the recent policies in the instructions is a change in the time limit for dine-ins, earlier set at 20 minutes, which was extended to a maximum of 30 minutes, according to the instruction.
In accordance with the instruction, food stalls, street vendors, hawkers, and the likes are allowed to open with adherence to strict health protocols until 20:00 Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB), with a maximum of three people permitted for dine-ins.
It further elaborated that restaurants and cafes in open spaces are also allowed to open until 20:00 WIB by applying health protocols with a maximum capacity of 25 percent, and at most two people allowed to sit at each table, with a time cap of 30 minutes.
However, restaurants and cafes located in buildings or enclosed spaces, such as malls, are still not allowed to offer dine-in services and solely deliveries and takeaways.
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Translator: Dewa W, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
