JAKARTA - Approaching Eid Al-Fitr, Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta was enlivened by buying and selling activities. In fact, this market crowd caught the public's attention after a video was circulated describing the congestion in this shopping place.
In the video taken inside the market, visitors are jostled without implementing health protocols. In fact, currently, the COVID-19 pandemic is still happening in the country.
Seeing this condition, an epidemiologist from Australia's Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, admitted that he was concerned. He said that the community, without exception, should remain cautious about the transmission of COVID-19.
He even said that people crammed there could not only get Eid clothes but also be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Moreover, the condition at that time was that the community was in one indoor area and did not comply with health protocols.
"Yes, this can be Eid clothes shopping, they may get not only the Eid clothes but also the COVID-19 virus can be taken home," said Dicky during a conversation with VOI, Sunday, May 2.
He asked the public not to underestimate the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because various research results show that people who are asymptomatic when exposed to this virus tend to have health problems and can reduce their quality of life in the future.
"I would like to remind you that once again, recent research has shown that in people without symptoms, the health problems are getting bigger, especially in addition to the heart, para, and blood vessels. This can be prolonged and has the potential to reduce the quality of life," said Dicky.
"So even though we haven't felt it yet, it can happen and this is what makes COVID-19 feared in developed countries," he added.
In addition, Dicky highlighted the role of the government in preventing this from happening. According to him, if a market or shopping center is to be opened so that economic activity can continue, the rules must be made in such a way.
"The market is indeed a gathering place. So if you want to open it, you have to be consistent with the protocol, the rules. If all the rules are not obeyed, implemented, yes, no matter how good we end up worsening the pandemic situation," he said.
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Anies halts the spread of COVID-19 in Tanah Abang
The day after the video of the Tanah Abang Market crowd circulated on the internet, the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan conducted an inspection. In addition, he also took steps so that similar incidents would not happen again and one of them was by dividing the market closure schedule.
"So starting this afternoon, the market will be closed, divided by those at 16.00 and closing at 17.00 to avoid going out at the same time and then heading to almost the same point," said Anies during a visit to Tanah Abang Market, Sunday, May 2.
In addition, there is also a change in the schedule for the commuter line that crosses Tanah Abang station. "Tomorrow afternoon from 15.00 to 19.00 the commuter line train will not stop at Tanah Abang Station so it will not transport passengers from there," he said.
This decision, he continued, was taken after his party held discussions with PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI), because of the pile of passengers at the station close to the shopping center.
However, as an alternative for the community, the provincial government still provides TransJakarta buses that operate from Jati Baru Street to other stations. "For traders or passengers who need public transportation, other vehicles can be facilitated," said the former Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud).
Not only that, but traders also have to sell in the market building. Anies said, buying and selling activities should not be carried out on the sidewalks around the Tanah Abang Market because this creates a risk of crowds.
"Our officers will be on guard," he said.
Furthermore, Anies did not deny that there was a significant increase in visitors visiting the market. "So it is different from the previous days, Saturday there was a jump in the number of visitors from 35 thousand to 87 thousand, and today, temporary data is estimated at around 100 thousand visitors," he said.
"Well, the control is then carried out by deploying around 2,500 personnel consisting of Police, Brimob, Sabhara. From the TNI there are from the Military Command, Navy, Marines, TNI Air Force Paskhas, and also Satpol PP (Civil Service Police Unit)," he added.
In addition to carrying out various tightening measures, Anies also asked people in Jakarta and surrounding areas not only to shop at Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta. This is because there are still many other markets scattered in the Capital City that are equally complete and sell a variety of merchandise.
"In Jakarta, there are many markets, we recommend visiting various markets in Jakarta besides Tanah Abang Market," he said.
By visiting other markets, he continued, people can get the goods they want without jostling.
"We are both preventing crowds and both maintaining our health," concluded Anies.
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