Dozens Of Jakarta Market Traders Are Positive COVID-19 Signs The Need For Serious Attention

Illustration (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - There are 51 traditional market traders in Jakarta confirmed positive for COVID-19. They confirmed positive after undergoing a rapid test and a PCR swab test.

Most of the traders who tested positive for COVID-19 were in the Klender Perumnas Market with a total of 20 people. Then, Rawa Kerbau Market with 14 people, Serdang Kemayoran Market with 9 people, Kramat Jati Main Market 5 people, Kedip Kebayoran Lama Market 2 people, and Mester Jatinegara Market 1 person. This data is still ongoing as it is examined in other markets.

"Swab tests have been carried out since last April by the government and (market) managers," said Head of Information and Communication Division of the Indonesian Market Traders Association (Ikappi) Reynaldi Sarijowan when contacted, Thursday, June 11.

Meanwhile, overall, there are at least 439 traders in 89 markets in various corona positive areas throughout Indonesia with 27 of them dead.

"We have collaborated with local governments in several provinces, and several regions have undergone rapid tests or swabs on the market," said Reynaldi.

Separately, PD Pasar Jaya President Director Arief Nasruddin explained, a number of markets that had positive traders of COVID-19 had been closed for three days. PD Pasar Jaya also immediately sprayed disinfectants to kill the corona virus in the market.

"When there is a market where traders are exposed to positive Covid exposure, such as some markets we also close, either in Klender, Lontar, or Serdang," said Arief.

After the market is declared conducive to COVID-19, said Arief, his party will reopen market operations so that economic activity can run.

Need serious attention

DPP Head of Information and Communication Ikappi Reynaldi Sarijowan asked the Jakarta Provincial Government to follow up on the big risk of COVID-19 transmission in traditional markets. This is because, said Reynaldi, the market is a space to fulfill people's basic needs and a source of income for traders.

Reynaldi rejected the market closure option made by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. "If it is closed, we refuse. We encourage continued testing. This is important to know from an early age so that health protocols are carried out in markets," Reynaldi said.

According to him, if the implementation of health protocols in the market goes well, buying and selling activities will still be the people's choice without having to fear the spread of COVID-19.

"However, if the health protocol fails to be implemented and the level of Covid spread is high enough in the market, it is possible that the shopping culture to traditional markets will shift to shopping using other means," said Reynaldi.