Warning From Kendari City Government: Parade On New Year's Eve Prohibited

JAKARTA - The Kendari City Government in Southeast Sulawesi Province has banned the holding of parades or processions on New Year's Eve 2022 to prevent crowds that could increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

According to Kendari Regional Secretary Nahwa Umar in Kendari, Wednesday, the ban on holding parades on New Year's Eve was stated in the Kendari Mayor's Circular Number: 440/6599/2021 regarding the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 at Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022 in Kendari City.

"One of the points of the circular is that it prohibits new year's parades and processions," he said as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 8.

The circular, according to Nahwa, also includes a ban on holding Christmas and New Year celebrations in shopping centers and malls.

According to the mayor's circular which is valid from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022, events that can cause crowds cannot be held, either indoors or outdoors.

Regarding the implementation of the Christmas service, Nahwa said that the city government had asked church officials to form a task force to ensure that health protocols were implemented in worship activities.

Worship activities in churches, according to government regulations, must also be carried out with a maximum number of participants of 50 percent of the room's capacity.