137 Market Traders In DKI Are Affected By COVID-19, Protocol Not Yet Maximum

Illustration (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - There are more and more traditional market traders in DKI Jakarta who are exposed to COVID-19. Head of the DKI Jakarta Health Service, Widyastuti, said that until now there were 137 market traders infected with the corona virus.

These results are known from aggressive testing in a market environment using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. A total of 137 market traders who were confirmed positive were obtained from 1,198 traders examined in 18 traditional markets.

"Actually, if there is a confirmed case, from the start we have done tracing in the area in the market. For those who are currently aggressive during the easing period, there is a mapping of areas that are potentially vulnerable," Widyastuti told reporters, Thursday, June 18.

The details of the traders who have confirmed the most positive cases came from the Kramat Jati Central Market with a total of 49 people. Then, there were 18 traders at Perumnas Klender Market, 13 people at Tanah Abang Market, 14 people at Serdang Market, 14 people at Rawasari Market, and 9 people at Petojo Enclek Market.

Furthermore, tests at Pasar Minggu Market found 3 traders who were also positive for COVID-19, then Sabeni Market 3 people, 2 people in Kedip Market, 2 people in Thamrin City Market, 2 people in Timbul Market, Kartini Village.

Then, Grogol Market found 1 person infected with COVID-19, Pasar Puri Indah 1 person, Gedong Obor Market 1 person, Makasar Embrio Market 1 person, Koja Complex Market 1 person, Lenteng Agung Market 2 people, and Gondangdia Market 1 person.

The protocol is not yet orderly

With the increasing number of cases, the DKI Provincial Government requires all traders to implement the COVID-19 prevention protocol in traditional market environments. Then, there is also the odd-even system rule in the market environment, with some markets opening on odd dates, and some operating on even dates.

Based on the results of the inspection by the members of the Jakarta DPRD PSI faction at Jembatan Lima Market, there is almost no implementation of the COVID-19 prevention protocol. Member of Commission B of the Jakarta DPRD PSI Faction, Eneng Malianasari, said that most traders do not wear masks, keep physical distance or even odd-even mechanisms are not followed.

"There has been no socialization or supervision yet, so the health protocol rules are just a formality. This makes the incessant COVID-19 testing in the market pointless because the spread of the virus continues and the market will become a new cluster in Jakarta," Eneng said in a written statement.

Furthermore, Eneng received testimony that there are a number of market traders who prefer to avoid being tested for COVID-19.

The reason is that traders are worried that there will be no compensation or assistance provided for traders who are proven to have the COVID-19 virus. In fact, they must be quarantined and unable to work for at least 14 days.

"The Provincial Government and PD Pasar Jaya must begin to coordinate with associations, market associations, and merchant groups with incentives for obedient traders and disincentives for those who fail to comply with the rules," he said.