Indonesia: Jakarta eases large-scale social restrictions

A medical worker takes sample for COVID-19 testing from a driver in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 9 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Jakarta capital of Indonesia has begun easing large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) over two weeks since October 12, following a slowdown in the growth of new COVID-19 infections after a partial lockdown was re-imposed in the city on September 14.

Local authorities announced that offices in essential business sectors are permitted to operate with a capacity “that is in line with their needs”, and those in non-essential ones are allowed to operate at 50-percent capacity.

Restaurants and cafes may serve dine-in guests but can only operate at 50-percent capacity while recreational parks and tourist destinations can open at a quarter of their capacity. Gyms are also limited to 25-percent capacity, and other indoor and outdoor sports facilities can operate at half of their capacity.

Indoor activities such as seminars, cinemas and marriage ceremonies can be held at a quarter of capacity.

Jakarta re-imposed PSBB after new positive cases increased by 37.09 percent between August 29 and September 11 compared to the previous two-week period.

The growth in the number of new cases slowed down to 22.39 percent between September 25 and October 9.

As of October 12, Jakarta, with a population of about 11 million, had recorded 87,006 cases of COVID-19, including 1,901 deaths. The respective figures across Indonesia were 336,716 and 11,935./.

VNA