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COVID-19: No road closures in Jakarta during large-scale social restrictions, police say
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Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta experiences a fraction of its usual traffic on March 15. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
T
he Jakarta Police have said they have no plans to close any roads in the capital during the two weeks of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) that will begin on Friday.
"There are no closures or traffic rerouting on roads entering or exiting Jakarta so far, despite transportation restrictions that are in place," Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Nana Sudjana said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
Jakarta Transportation Agency head Syafrin Liputo said that physical distancing and limiting the number of passengers in private vehicles were the best options.
"There are no road closures in the capital city as of now," he said as quoted by kompas.com.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has announced that the city will impose stronger mobility restrictions for 14 days starting on Friday to contain the surge of COVID-19 cases in the capital.
Public transportation services will limit passenger numbers to 50 percent of their capacity and restrict their operational hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Private vehicles are still allowed to pass through the city's streets, also in and out of the capital, but with a limited number of passengers in each vehicle.
Residents have been instructed to stay at home as schools, offices and public spaces will remain closed. Gatherings of more than five people in public spaces will be prohibited.
Read also: COVID-19: Satellite cities to follow Jakarta's lead on PSBB
The Jakarta Police launched a two-week operation starting on Monday to educate the public about COVID-19 prevention as well as PSBB. The operation will end on April 19.
"The operation aims to educate road users about PSBB and increase their awareness about obeying traffic rules. It also acts as a preemptive and preventive measure to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak," Adj. Com. Sr. Fahri Siregar of the Jakarta Traffic Police said in a written statement on Wednesday.
Fahri said that police officers would also help with the distribution of staple foods and face masks to residents.
As of Thursday afternoon, Jakarta had confirmed 1,706 COVID-19 cases in the city, more than half of the country's official tally of 3,293 cases. The capital has recorded 142 fatalities out of 280 nationwide.
PSBB will be in force in the capital until April 24. (nal)
