COVID-19 Task Force: Rules Of PPKM Which Says 20 Minutes Meal Time At Stalls Counts From The First Bite

Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force Wiku Adisasmito (Photo: Twitter @BNPB_Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, answered the public's confusion about when 20 minutes was counted when eating at food stalls during the Level 4 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

Wiku explained that the duration of eating within the limited time was calculated from the time the order was delivered and the customer started spooning the food into their mouths, not when they started ordering food.

"The 20-minute duration is calculated from starting to eat and regardless of the ordering process", said Wiku in a short message, Wednesday, July 28.

Wiku said that the supervision of the duration of eating at the stall during Level 4 PPKM was carried out by PPKM supervisors consisting of the ranks of the Civil service police, the National Armed Force (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and the local COVID-19 Task Force.

"Regarding the supervision, the regional COVID-19 Task Force and of course also the people who remind each other", said Wiku.

It is known, the rules related to the time limit are contained in the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 24 of 2021 concerning Level 3 and 4 of PPKM COVID-19 in Java-Bali Island.

One of the provisions in the regulation states that the implementation of eating/drinking activities in public places such as food stalls or warteg, street vendors, hawker stalls, and the like are allowed to open with strict health protocols until 20.00 p.m. local time. The maximum number of visitors to eat at the place is three people and the maximum meal time is 20 minutes.

The head of the Warung Tegal Nusantara Community (Kowantara) Mukroni stated that the provisions for operating time and eating on-site in PPKM for 20 minutes need to be reviewed.

"There are not only children and young people who eat at warteg, but there are old people too. Parents eat slowly. If they are told to hurry, they can choke", said Mukroni.

The 20-minute dine-in provision does not specifically regulate the preparation of vendors serving meals to customers. "There are merchants who sell grilled chicken, catfish, and others. This takes time (preparation), if you rush it, it can even be splashed with oil", he continued.

Mukroni said the time limit for eating in places does not guarantee a person is safe from transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. "We all know that the transmission of COVID-19 does not recognize hours, but seconds", he said.