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COVID-19: Central Java governor thanks residents for forgoing 'mudik' this year
According to the Central Java provincial administration, a total of 489,700 Central Java residents have returned to their respective hometowns between March 23 and April 7
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Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo visits an isolation ward prepared independently by residents for travelers who have returned home in Ngrapah village, Banyubiru district, Semarang, Central Java, on April 4. (Courtesy of /Humas Pemprov Jateng.)
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entral Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has expressed his appreciation to residents who have decided not to participate in this year’s Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, as nearly 500,000 people have already returned to the province.
“We thank those who chose to stay where they are. The government will fulfill your needs, especially staple needs,” Ganjar said on Thursday.
He was referring to a number of social aid programs provided by the government for, among others, Greater Jakarta residents to persuade them to stay at home instead of returning to their respective hometowns. Ganjar said the aid would be distributed starting next week.
“We must take care of them, so they will not be burdened by their sacrifice of not participating in mudik.”
According to the Central Java provincial administration, a total of 489,700 Central Java residents have returned to their respective hometowns between March 23 and April 7.
The highest arrival numbers were recorded on March 31, when 131,977 people returned to the province.
However, the number of people returning to Central Java had been declining since April 1, as the government has been urging people not to mudik for the upcoming Idul Fitri holiday, which is expected to fall in late May.
Ganjar also reminded civil servants to shelter in place as the government had officially prohibited from mudik, including police and military personnel, as well as state-owned enterprise employees.
“There will be sanction for violators.”
People who have returned Central Java are required to self-quarantine for 14 days, supervised by their neighborhood unit (RT) head and physician in nearby community health centers (Puskesmas).
Read also: COVID-19: 'Mudik' risks mass contagion across Java
To discourage their relatives living in Greater Jakarta from returning home, residents of Wonogiri in Central Java also joined hands to send them staple food. Residents of Krapyak village in Wonogiri collected various staple food sand dried foods such as rice, emping (nut crackers) rengginang (rice crackers), cashews and dried salted fish for their relatives.
“We do it so that they would put their plans to return home on hold. Many people leave our village to work in big cities,” said local resident Widi Prastowo, 56.
The villagers acknowledged that their relatives in Greater Jakarta faced economic hurdles amid the COVID-19 outbreak. At the same time, they understand the dangers of people traveling from one province to another during the health crisis.
“They could spread the disease if they return home. To help them, we send them staple foods to fulfill their daily needs,” Widi added.
Residents distributed the first batch of 1.6 tons of rice directly to 148 Krapyak natives in Greater Jakarta on Wednesday and are now preparing the second batch.
Central Java has reported 144 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Friday and 22 fatalities. (aly)
