COVID-19 Patients Increase, Palembang City Government Urges Residents To Celebrate Chinese New Year In A Limited Time

JAKARTA – To avoid exposure to COVID-19 which is slowly starting to increase, the City Government (Pemkot) of Palembang, South Sumatra asks residents to continue to pay attention to health protocols when celebrating Chinese New Year 2573 which falls on Tuesday, January 1.

"(Celebrating Chinese New Year) must also coordinate with the police and the local COVID-19 Task Force, so that it continues in an orderly and solemn manner", said Palembang City Regional Secretary, Ratu Dewa, quoting Antara on Saturday, January 29.

He explained the importance of this appeal which should be of concern to all parties because currently, Palembang is experiencing an increasing trend of confirmed cases of COVID-19 with an average number of four cases in the last few days.

"Just as before, this restriction is to eliminate the spike in COVID-19 cases, which is currently on the rise", said Ratu Dewa.

An administrator of Kwan Im Chandra Nadi Temple, 10 Ulu Village, Palembang, Jhony Prima, said that the 2573 Lunar New Year celebrations were limited, namely only prioritized for worship and without supporting events such as entertainment and others.

This is by the restrictions issued by the government.

"It's limited and very simple, just pray and pray after that we go home. Then we also don't receive guests from outside, the same as in previous years during this COVID-19", he said.

According to him, the prayers and hopes of residents in welcoming this year of the Tiger ask the Creator to remove the COVID-19 pandemic from the face of the Earth so that all life can be fully normal.