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[ANALYSIS] Dilemma between passenger increase and COVID-19 case rise
The government is trying to minimize the occurrence of even bigger cases by reducing collective leave at the end of December.
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![[ANALYSIS] Dilemma between passenger increase and COVID-19 case rise](https://img.jakpost.net/c/2020/07/13/2020_07_13_100061_1594621893._large.jpg)
A woman helps her son put on a mask and face shield before they board the Argo Parahyangan train at Bekasi station in West Java on July 10. State-owned train operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) has added long-distance train services to cater to travelers going to and from Greater Jakarta. (JP/P.J.Leo)
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n the last few weeks, COVID-19 cases have increased significantly. Some of the triggers that led to the increase included the rise in community mobility following the long weekend at the end of October and lack of public awareness in complying with predetermined health protocols. Many people think COVID-19 is no longer dangerous, even though the number of fatalities continues to rise.
The government is trying to minimize the occurrence of even bigger cases by reducing collective leave at the end of December. Initially, the year-end extended holiday was scheduled for Dec. 24 until Jan. 3, 2021.
However, the government has split the long holiday into two periods, from Dec. 24-27 and Dec. 31 – Jan. 3, 2021.
In the third quarter, the GDP of transportation and warehousing showed a fairly good increase of 24.28 percent quarter-to-quarter (qtq) compared to the second quarter of 2020, which shrunk by 29.18 percent qtq.
On an annual basis, the GDP growth of transportation and warehousing in the third quarter of 2020 contracted by 16.70 percent year-on-year (yoy), which is better than in the second quarter of 2020, which decreased by 30.80 percent yoy. When viewed in more detail, rail transportation grew 37.97 percent qtq, land transportation by 17.09 percent qtq, sea transportation 19.33 percent qtq, river, lakes and ferry transportation 17.45 percent qtq, air transportation 97.05 percent qtq, and warehousing and postal and courier transportation support services by 41.31 percent qtq.
The increase of GDP in the transportation and warehousing sector indicates an improvement in all modes of transportation and warehousing, both in terms of passengers and goods. However, many people have also chosen to use private vehicles to avoid the risk of spreading COVID-19 through public transportation, such as buses, trains or airplanes.
From June to August, the number of passengers increased but it dropped in September before picking up again in October. This occurred in three modes of passenger transportation, namely sea, air and rail transportation. This shows that the growth rate of passengers in the new normal has not been consistent.
