Caught Not Wearing Mask On Inspection, Dozens Of Market Traders In Probolinggo Are Tested Antigen

PROBOLINGGO - Dozens of traders and buyers who are not wearing masks at Sebaung Market, Probolinggo Regency, East Java, underwent an antigen swab test. The COVID-19 test was carried out by a judicial operation carried out by the Gending District Task Force

"A total of 22 traders and buyers at the Sebaung Market, Gending District, were caught by judicial operations, and then they were swabbed with antigens because they were found not wearing masks when they were active in the traditional market," said the Head of the COVID-19 Task Force in Gending District who is also the Head of Gending Sub-district, Deny Kartika Sari in Probolinggo, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, June 15.

Deny led the judicial operation accompanied by Forkopimka Gending by involving personnel from the TNI/Polri, Satpol PP, and Gending Health Center conducting a sweep to all corners of the traditional market.

In addition to conducting sweeps, her team also provides education to traders and buyers about the importance of wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as sanctions for those who violate them.

"The judicial operation this time is indeed different from the previous judicial operation. Previously, violators were only given social sanctions, but this time they were given the sanction of having to undergo an antigen swab test," she said.

Deny explained that the sanction for antigen swab test was given because the Task Force wanted to ensure that those who were not wearing masks and were at Sebaung Market were negative for COVID-19, so that traders and buyers in the market were completely free of the Coronavirus.

"The judicial operation is routinely carried out by the Gending District COVID-19 Task Force and next week it will shift to other places that are traffic centers of community activities," she said.

Deny hopes that this activity will be able to break the chain of the spread of COVID-19, so that the public is at least given education that those who do not wear masks will be given sanctions.

"If there are no sanctions, then they lack discipline. Besides that, it encourages them to be disciplined in health protocols, especially in using masks," she said.

The Gending Sub-district Head appealed to the public to continue to apply 5M even though they have been vaccinated, they still wear masks, wash their hands frequently, keep their distance, avoid crowds and limit mobility.

"Hopefully, with the 5M discipline, Probolinggo Regency, especially Gending District, will be free from COVID-19, so that activities will return to normal while still adapting to new habits," said Deny.