Jakarta Closes Eateries As It Returns to Tighter Social Distancing

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Jakarta Provincial Administration has laid down the law two days after it instituted tighter large-scale social distancing to contain Covid-19 in the capital on Monday, September 14.

Personnel from the Public Order Agency or Satpol PP enforced the policy by closing down dozens of business establishments for violating health protocols.

“Satpol PP has closed 23 businesses, mostly eateries like restaurants, food stalls, and cafes,” news site Warta Kota quoted Satpol PP Jakarta head Arifin as saying on 16 September.

 Also read: Jakarta Administration Secretary Saefullah Dies After Contracting Covid-19

“We shut them down for allowing diners to eat in or wearing their masks improperly, and other infractions. A number of them are also repeat offenders, so we slapped progressive fines on them.”

Arifin added that the establishments will be closed for 24 hours, in accordance with health protocols. The capital charged first-time offenders Rp. 50 million, which increased to Rp. 100 million, then Rp. 150 million for those who broke the law three times.

He added that the penalties do not end there. “If the shuttered business could not pay the fine, [the Jakarta Provincial Administration] will keep them closed for a week until they pay.”

Also read: Jakarta Reimposes Partial Lockdown from Sept. 14 as Covid-19 Cases Surge

He noted that many of the eateries are located in South Jakarta. Satpol PP focused on cracking down on individuals who did not wear masks or put them on improperly.

They are also tasked with ensuring that eateries comply with health protocols by only serving takeaway. Satpol PP has a checkered reputation for heavy-handed tactics, especially towards vendors in traditional markets even before the pandemic.

Jakarta re-imposed tighter large-scale social distancing following three months of the policy’s less stringent transitory phase, following an uptick in Covid-19 cases. The policy is expected to last until September 27.

(Writers: Fitriyandi Al Fajri, Rindi Nuris Velarosdela | Editor: Ambaranie Nadia Kemala Movanita)

Sources:

https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/09/16/14101971/2-hari-pengetatan-psbb-23-tempat-usaha-ditutup-karena-langgar-protokol. 

https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/09/15/20385611/empat-fokus-pengawasan-satpol-pp-selama-psbb-penggunaan-masker-hingga.