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Children under 12 now allowed to visit malls
Children under 12 years of age may now visit shopping malls under the government's eased restrictions currently in a trial phase, though visitors must still be prescreened via the PeduliLindungi app and comply with all health protocols during their visit.
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Shoppers follow social distancing and other health protocols at a mall in this file photograph. The PeduliLindungi official COVID-19.tracking app is mandatory for screening all potential visitors to shopping malls. (Kompas.com/Garry Lotulung)
T
he government is now allowing children under 12 years old to visit shopping malls in some areas of Java, following requests from retailers to lift a ban imposed on Aug. 10.
Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan told reporters on Monday that the eased policy was a trial run and limited to shopping malls in the five major cities on Java: Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
The government has not announced a similar relaxation of rules for elderly people 70 years and above, who remain subject to the Aug. 10 ban on shopping mall visits.
“As the COVID-19 situation improves, and with the implementation of the health protocols and the use of the PeduliLindungi [app], some adjustments can be made to restrictions on community activities during this two-week period,” Luhut told a virtual press conference.
The announcement came after retailers asked for more accommodative policies in a meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo almost two weeks ago.
Earlier on Sept. 9, Indonesian Shopping Center Association (APPBI) chairman Alphonzus Widjaya said it required the use of the PeduliLindungi COVID-19 tracking app for all potential visitors. He also stressed that only fully vaccinated people would be permitted entry to shopping malls, and that any violators of the health protocols would be expelled from the premises.
“So there should be no more restrictions in terms of age or dine-in durations,” Alphonzus said, as quoted on Sept. 8 in a separate report by news agency Antara.
