Mall Opening Plans Considered Hurry

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo has visited a number of malls in Bekasi to prepare for the new normal in the face of the coronavirus pandemic or COVID-19.

Jokowi's decision to open up the opportunity for shopping centers to be reopened in the near future is considered hasty by some circles.

According to epidemiologist Dicky Budiman, the discourse on opening a mall is not feasible if the area is still in the PSBB status. The government should have waited for the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) period to end and see the results of the evaluation.

"The timing is too hasty, plus close inter-phase breaks. There should be an inter-phase evaluation because it is likely that there will be many obstacles in the field and interventions," said Dicky when contacted, Tuesday, May 26.

After all, the application of this new normal cannot be generalized nationally. This is because, according to Dicky, the conditions for the transmission rate of COVID-19 for each province are different.

The plan to open the mall, which reportedly began on June 5, was also criticized by the Chief Executive of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) Tulus Abadi. Tulus rejects the plan to open the mall, which is too early.

He estimated that until June 5, the corona virus was not safe to control, especially in the Jabodetabek area as the epicenter of the spread of COVID-19.

"Efforts to relax or form the mall opening can be done if indeed the curve of COVID has decreased or is sloping," said Tulus.

Supervision is difficult

The plan to open the mall is indeed accompanied by a provision that all activities in shopping centers must follow the COVID-19 prevention protocol. However, Tulus doubts that all parties, both managers and visitors, consistently comply with the rules.

Supervision and prosecution for people who violate protocols such as not wearing masks and not applying physical distancing, according to Tulus, will be difficult.

"Even though they are advised, asked, obliged to use health protocols, the fact is that it will be very difficult to control and the potential for violations is very large," he explained.

The government is getting ready to open a mall

Yesterday, President Joko Widodo conducted visits to a number of shopping venues, one of which is the Summarecon Bekasi Mall. After conducting observations at supermarket sales outlets, Jokowi emphasized that he wanted a new normal life to be carried out during this pandemic.

However, to achieve this, Jokowi is aware that the central and regional governments must reduce the reproduction rate (RO) to 1.

"We want to remain productive but safe with COVID, this is what we want. But in getting to this new order we also look at the figures and facts on the ground," said Jokowi.

He explained that currently RO in the Bekasi area is below the number 1. However, he hopes that West Java, especially in the Bekasi City area, the transmission rate can be kept down. Of course, this reduction in numbers can be done if there is discipline from the community.

Thus, the government will involve the TNI and Polri in monitoring health protocols when normal life begins.

"So the TNI and Polri will supervise surveillance in the field, ensure the implementation in the field of matters related to wearing masks, maintaining distance, and preventing people from crowding or crowding each other," he explained.

"We want to once again be able to enter into a new normal, enter a new order and we want to emerge a strong awareness, to emerge strong discipline so that the RO, we can continue to press below 1," added the former Governor of DKI Jakarta.

Jokowi also visited the HI Roundabout MRT Station. His visit with TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police Chief General Idham Azis was to check the readiness of the new normal procedure.

He then said that later there would be TNI Polri on guard in public places as a disciplinary measure for residents in the midst of a new normal life.