Worried That There Will Be Disturbances Of Alertness On New Year's Eve, The City Government Closes Square Bandung

Bandung Square is closed to the public. (ANTARA)

BANDUNG - The Bandung City Government (Pemkot) will not open Bandung Square for public use during the 2023 New Year's Eve celebration, Saturday, December 31. Head of Bandung City Satpol PP Rasdian Setiadi said this was done to prevent disturbances based on social, health and public order aspects. "From the last meeting, the decision was still closed. Because later if it is opened, there will be disturbances in order," said Rasdian in Bandung, West Java, Antara, Thursday, December 29. He said that later Satpol PP personnel would continue to carry out surveillance around the square area. Because even though it was closed, he predicted that the community would continue to crowd the area. Rasdian said that later the community would be asked to disperse at around 00.30 WIB after New Year's Eve. "We also had a meeting with related agencies, such as the Health Service and PMI which will prepare an ambulance if someone needs it, and also with the Fire Service to help clean up the area," he said. Meanwhile, the Daily Chair of the Bandung City COVID-19 Task Force, Asep Saeful Gufron, added that his party did not recommend that the square be opened at the moment of the new year to prevent an increase in COVID-19 cases. Even so, according to him, so far the number of COVID-19 cases is under control until the end of 2022. He also appealed to the public to continue to apply health protocols. "Until today, it is under control compared to the past three weeks, there has been a significant increase," said Asep.