Jakarta will resume full PSBB on Monday, Anies confirms

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has confirmed that the capital will return to full large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) on Monday, albeit with several relaxations, after months of “transitional PSBB”.

The governor said at a press conference on Sunday that the measures would last for two weeks and could be extended.

“We feel that we need to enact stricter measures so that the rise in [COVID-19] cases in Jakarta can be controlled,” he said.

Schools, tourist locations, recreational areas, public parks, public sporting facilities, weddings, seminars and conferences will be closed or suspended for the two weeks.

Workplaces in 11 essential sectors – including health, food, energy, communications, finance, logistics and daily needs retailers – will be allowed to remain open at 50 percent of capacity, while companies outside these sectors must implement work-from-home policies and allow no more than 25 percent of their employees to work in the office at the same time.

"Many of the clusters were found in offices. That's why our main focus will be on limitations in office areas," Anies said.

Traditional markets and malls will be allowed to operate at 50 percent of visitor capacity, but restaurants and cafes will only be allowed to provide takeaway and delivery orders, Anies said.

In a departure from the policies of the original PSBB, enacted in April, places of worship in residential areas and housing complexes will be allowed to remain open at 50 percent capacity. Larger houses of worship and those located in COVID-19 red zones will be required to close.

If confirmed cases were found in any of these locations, Anies said, the building would have to be closed for at least three days.

Anies added that COVID-19 patients with mild or no symptoms would no longer be allowed to self-isolate at home and would have to be quarantined in government facilities starting on Monday.

Public transportation will be limited to only 50 percent of passenger capacity and the odd-even license plate traffic policy will be suspended for the duration of PSBB.

A separate Transportation Agency regulation will further regulate app-based motorcycle taxis, but Anies said they would still be allowed to carry passengers provided they abided by health protocols.