Jakarta's PSBB Transition Phase Is Extended For Another 14 Days As COVID-19 Situation Remains Serious - TheSmartLocal Indonesia - Travel, Lifestyle, Culture & Language Guide

Jakarta extends PSBB transition for another 14 days

Jakarta loosened its large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) throughout June, after three months of very limited movement within the city. After evaluating this first transitional phase, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan announced on Wednesday, 1st July 2020 that social restrictions will be in place for another 14 days.

The second stage of the PSBB transition, also known as the transitional PSBB, will last from 3rd July 2020 to 16th July 2020.

14 more days of transitional PSBB in Jakarta

Image credit: Katadata

In the past month, businesses, offices, and even recreational sites such as several Kota Tua museums and Dufan have reopened. They have been operating at 50 percent capacity, and with strict health and hygiene guidelines in place, but it’s better to err on the side of caution. Governor Anies’s decision to add 14 more days before further loosening of large-scale social restrictions may be what Jakartans need.

As of 2nd July 2020, the Indonesian COVID-19 Task Force reported 59,394 confirmed cases, with 11,637 found in Jakarta alone. Yesterday’s jump of 1,624 new cases nationwide is also the highest recorded number of daily cases, showing that we need to keep up health measures as the pandemic continues to be serious.

Governor Anies added that although some schools located in COVID-19 green zones across Indonesia are scheduled to reopen in mid-July, Jakarta schools will not follow suit.

Some health measures currently being implemented

Image credit: @lpj_jakarta

In addition to encouraging Jakartans to wear face masks, practice physical distancing, and wash hands regularly, there are other measures that are currently being implemented. To prevent overcrowding, shopping malls such as Mal Kelapa Gading require shoppers to check in and check out of their premises using a barcode that they can scan using their phone. This system is also believed to make contact tracing easier.

Image credit: Tempo.co

Traditional and community markets in Jakarta don’t require online registration, but entrances are strictly guarded to ensure that they operate at roughly 50 percent capacity during the transition phase.

Don’t let your guard down during the PSBB transition and continue to wear face masks

The sight of cafes opening and online ojek drivers carrying passengers again might make you think that the COVID-19 pandemic has gone away forever. But it’s important to remember that we’re still going through the PSBB transition stage, and it is exactly during this period that we need to be extra careful. Continue to practice physical distancing and wear face masks when you need to leave your house.