Government Allows Houses Of Worship To Open: Maximum Capacity Of 25 Percent Or 20 People

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan emphasized that the government allowed the public to carry out religious obligations in places of worship during the extension of the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) until August 2.

"This applies to PPKM Level 3 which will be implemented in 33 regencies and cities in the Java-Bali region," he said in an online press conference, Sunday, July 25.

However, Luhut asked the public to comply with a number of rules to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in places of worship.

"Places of worship, be it mosques, prayer rooms, churches, temples, temples, and pagodas as well as other places that function as places of worship, can hold worship and religious activities in congregation during the implementation of PPKM Level 3 with a maximum of 25 percent capacity or 20 people by implementing the health is more stringent," he said.

In addition, the government called Luhut also regulates other social activities such as wedding receptions, which have the potential to gather large numbers of people.

"The wedding reception can be held with a maximum of 20 invitations and not eating on the spot by implementing more stringent health protocols," he stressed.

Previously, the certainty of the extension of PPKM Level 4 had been conveyed by President Joko Widodo. In his statement, the Head of State said that the decisions made had considered aspects of health, economy, and dynamics in the community.

"I have decided to continue implementing PPKM Level 4 from July 26 to August 2, 2021," said the President. Even so, he reminded all parties to remain careful in responding to the trend of improvement that occurred.

"We must remain cautious in responding to this downward trend. We must remain vigilant against the highly contagious Delta variant," concluded the Head of State.