Weekly gallery: Overcrowded cemeteries

Tue, September 8, 2020 / 03:59 am

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Jakarta administration officials and volunteers participate in a movie screening simulation at a Cinema XXI theater in Cililitan, East Jakarta, on Saturday. August 29. 2020. The Jakarta administration plans to allow cinemas in the city to reopen with tight health protocols. JP/Seto Wardhana
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Audience members enjoy a drive-in concert by local pop band Kahitna during the New Live Experience series in the parking area of the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Saturday August 29.2020. JP/Wienda Parwitasari
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Medical staff get ready to take swab samples during free Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing held by state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia in South Tangerang, Banten, on August. 30. 2020. Some 750 residents were tested in the event. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
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A grave digger writes the name of a deceased COVID-19 patient on a cross at Pondok Ranggon public cemetery, East Jakarta, on August. 31. 2020, while a burial proceeds in the background. Up to 40 people are buried in the cemetery every day. JP/P.J. Leo
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A staff member disinfects a microphone before a House of Representatives plenary session in Central Jakarta on September. 1. 2020. The session heard general views from party members on the draft 2021 state budget and endorsed a revision of the Constitutional Court Law. JP/Seto Wardhana
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Pendi, 72, feeds stray cats outside the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta, on September. 2. 2020 Every week, Pendi receives Rp 70,000 (US$4.74) from a donor to buy cat food and feed around 150 stray cats in the area. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
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A man is made to lie in a coffin for failing to wear a face mask in Kalisari, East Jakarta, on Thursday, September 3. 2020. A joint team of Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), police and military personnel handed down the controversial punishment to health protocol offenders in the area. The joint team eventually decided to stop the punishments following widespread criticism. JP/P.J. Leo

The Pondok Ranggon public cemetery in East Jakarta buries 700 bodies every week, mostly deceased COVID-19 patients. If the COVID-19 death rate in the city does not decrease anytime soon, the cemetery is predicted to run out of space in October.

The lack of burial space in Pondok Ranggon offers a glimpse into Indonesia’s inability to curb the disease. The country reached a somber milestone of recording daily new cases of 3,000 in early September.

Although the curve shows no sign of flattening, many local governments, citizens and businesses are eager to return to their normal activities. The Jakarta administration, for instance, is planning to reopen movie theaters soon. (mca)