Impact Of COVID-19, Many Residents Of OKU, South Sumatra, Canceled Marriages

JAKARTA - The Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) of Ogan Komering Ulu Regency (OKU), South Sumatra (Sumsel), noted that the number of citizen marriages has decreased during 2020.

It is recorded that in 2020 the number of OKU residents who married was 2,553 pairs, while in 2019 there were 2,841 pairs.

"This decline is due to two factors, one of which is the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that in percentage there is a decrease of around 11 percent," said the Head of the OKU Ministry of Religion Ishak Putih through the Head of Islamic Bumas, HM Ali in Baturaja, Tuesday, January 19.

Ali said, the effects of the pandemic had caused the people's economy to decline so that many had postponed marriage. In addition, OKU residents are also afraid that wedding receptions will become a cluster for the spread of this dangerous virus.

The decline in the number of marriages, continued Ali, was not only in OKU, but was almost evenly distributed in the South Sumatra region.

The second factor is the influence of age. In accordance with Law Number 16 of 2019 Amendment to Law Number 1 of 1974 which stipulates that the conditions for a marriage contract must be at least 19 years old.