The Government Admits It Is Difficult To Make A Special COVID-19 Protocol In Traditional Markets

Illustrated (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy IV of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) for Political Information and Communication, Jury Ardiantoro admitted that it is difficult to make a protocol for preventing the transmission of COVID-19 specifically in traditional markets.

In fact, markets are locations that were not closed during the implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in various regions. This is because traditional markets are a place to fulfill people's daily needs, such as food and household ingredients.

As a result, transmission of COVID-19 originating from close interactions between traders and buyers in traditional markets cannot be avoided.

"We know for ourselves, this market is not or has not been properly regulated to prevent transmission of the virus. Social distancing in this market is difficult to control," said the jury in a virtual discussion, Saturday, June 13.

Indeed, he said, a number of areas such as Salatiga, Central Java have implemented physical distancing of merchant stalls every 1 to 2 meters in traditional markets.

However, this protocol cannot be applied in big cities like DKI Jakarta, due to limited land to allocate some traders.

"There are several markets where local governments and market managers have made adjustments for physical distancing. However, in some areas it has not been able to. Well, this is where the transmission occurs," said the jury.

Therefore, the solution that is currently being promoted to prevent the spread of the virus from spreading in the market is massive examination, either using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or a rapid test.

As information, the Indonesian Market Traders Association (IKAPPI) agrees that the high rate of COVID-19 transmission in traditional markets. To date, at least 529 market traders have been infected with the corona virus.

Then, of the hundreds of traders who tested positive for COVID-19, 29 of them died. Recorded, the number of traders throughout Indonesia as many as 12.3 million people from 13,450 markets.