The Square Closed Towards The End Of The Year To Prevent A Mobility Surge

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JAKARTA - Head of Behavior Change for the COVID-19 Task Force Sonny Harry B. Harmadi said a number of public places would be closed towards the end of 2021 to prevent a spike in mobility by the public.

"There are several things that need to be paid attention to by the public because the central government has said that it is better to celebrate this new year at home," said Sonny in the Main Tuesday Productive Dialogue entitled "Starting the New Year with New Habits" quoted by Antara, Tuesday, December 28.

Sonny explained that the closure of all squares in various regions was carried out to prevent parades and processions, which are usually carried out by the community to welcome the new year which could increase the potential for further spreading COVID-19 transmission.

In fact, to prevent a spike in mobility, there will be monitoring of community activities carried out through situational restrictions on domestic mobility through the application of the odd-even vehicle number rule.

It also encourages managers of public facilities to form a Health Protocol Task Force as a condition for operational licensing. If the place does not have it, it is advisable not to perform surgery.

"We also continue to encourage the optimization of the role of the COVID-19 Task Force at the village and sub-district level. Then the expansion of the use of the PeduliLindung application and various other things including engineering," he said.

Then at shopping centers, the activities of street vendors will be monitored through capacity restrictions and operating hours at tourist attractions and malls in order to cause a buildup of visitors.

Restrictions on Christmas and New Year's activities in shopping centers will also be lifted. Except for exhibitions such as SMEs. Sonny said that his party also prepared a pocket book on questions and answers about government policies that were prepared with the Ministry of Communication and Information and the Ministry of Health to clarify the policies implemented during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Through a number of special strategies that were formed to protect the community, Sonny asked the public to be patient and willing to work together so that the situation could quickly return to normal and bring the pandemic to an end.

"During a pandemic, there is still a risk of transmission. If the risk of transmission is not controlled and there is a spike in cases, it will potentially increase the death rate as well. Therefore, we must work together,” said Sonny.