Anies Pulls Emergency Brake COVID-19, Strict PSBB Effective September 14

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan decided to pull the emergency brake amid soaring COVID-19 cases in Jakarta. This emergency brake was implemented with the imposition of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) starting September 14.

"So, in principle starting Monday, September 14, the business activities will not stop but work in the office will be eliminated, road business activities, office activities will continue, but office buildings are not allowed to operate," Anies said in a press conference, Wednesday, September 9.

Currently, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is preparing regulations for the preparation of the PSBB as it was at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, there are 11 essential areas that will continue to run, but their implementation will still be minimized.

"Not operating normally but reduced, operating permits will be re-evaluated, to ensure that control runs well business activities, social activities do not cause infection," he continued.

In addition, all entertainment venues and activities managed by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will be closed. This also applies to restaurants or cafes which are prone to potential transmission of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, regarding places of worship, Anies said that worship can be carried out limited to local residents with strict health protocols.

"This means that the house of worship is not allowed, the congregation is not allowed to come from, but the house of worship in the village, the complex used by the complex community is allowed. There are exceptions in areas with high cases, so worship activities must be done at home only. But others can carry out activities as long as for the residents there are not religious services where the congregation comes from various places where there is potential for transmission. I recommend that everything be done at home, ”he said.

Anies said that the initial PSBB decision was taken at the Task Force meeting this afternoon. It is deemed necessary to tighten residents' activities given the increasing number of positive COVID-19 patients. Anies discussed the mortality rate as well as the level of use of space and mattresses for isolation handling COVID-19.

"So by looking at this emergency, there are not many options for Jakarta residents except pulling the emergency brake as soon as possible. It was decided that we would withdraw the emergency brake, which means that we are forced to re-apply the PSBB as it was at the beginning of the pandemic. It is no longer a transitional PSBB, but we are carrying out PSBB as it was in the early days, "said Anies.