“If we want to break the chain of transmission and start living in the new normal, then these last few weeks are the most crucial moments,” Doni said on Wednesday. “But we cannot stop implementing the PSBB if the public does not comply with the regulations.”

He bemoaned the fact that many people were still going out to crowded areas in defiance of PSBB protocols.

“We are worried that people who are still unaware about the risks of COVID-19 will still attend public gatherings and conduct activities that can actually be avoided,” Doni said.

In the past few weeks, there have been many reports of people violating the PSBB and physical distancing measures and thronging fast food outlets, airports, traditional markets and shopping malls.

In West Java, the region’s COVID-19 task force secretary, Daud Achmad, reported a number of violations of PSBB measures on April 22, including failure to wear masks while driving and violations of the 50 percent occupancy limit for cars and motorcycles.

In East Java, a recent online survey conducted by the alumni association of Airlangga University’s School of Public Health found that many places of worship, offices and factories mostly remained operational without health protocols. (dpk)

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