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Over 1,700 traditional market traders test positive for COVID-19
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Traders wear masks and face shields to protect themselves from COVID-19 at the Petisah traditional market in Medan, North Sumatra, on July 17. (Antara/Septianda Perdana)
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total of 1,762 traders in traditional markets across the country have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent months, with 68 of the traders succumbing to the coronavirus disease, according to data from the Indonesian Traditional Market Traders Association (IKAPPI).
The association said Central Java and Jakarta were the two regions with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in traditional markets, with Central Java reporting 475 cases and Jakarta 154, based on data as of June 18.
IKAPPI head of information and communication Reynaldi Sarijowan said traditional market traders were among those at the highest risk of being exposed to virus.
With cases on the rise, Reynaldi called on local administrations to focus more on implementing health protocols and increasing the rate of swab or rapid testing for market traders.
“We also urge the central and regional governments to provide a stimulus to traders to keep traditional markets afloat,” Reynaldi said on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com.
He said one of the triggers for the spike in COVID-19 cases in traditional markets was the long holiday in October.
Read also: Indonesian wet markets carry high risk of virus transmission
Traditional wet markets have reportedly spawned several infection clusters since the pandemic began. Crowded settings and close interactions among traders and buyers have contributed to the spread of COVID-19 in several wet markets across the country.
Traditional market vendors suffered a significant slump in revenue at the start of the pandemic as the government and local administrations restricted mobility and ordered people to stay at home. The Trade Ministry had issued a circular in late May on supporting the operation of traditional markets while also calling for health protocol obedience.
Authorities had also ordered the temporary closing of wet markets in several regions in the country following findings of COVID-19 cases.
The IKAPPI previously also issued health protocols for vendors and traditional market managers that included guidelines on the distance between stalls, plastic curtains between traders and customers, body temperature checks at entrance gates, as well as routine disinfecting.
Indonesia has logged persistent spikes of new coronavirus cases, caused largely by the lack of public awareness and rampant violations of health protocols, along with relaxed restrictions from authorities. On Tuesday, the Health Ministry confirmed there were 586,842 cases, including 483,497 recoveries and 18,000 deaths. (syk)
