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Indonesia, one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus on the Asian continent, has taken steps to deal with those who ignore the guidelines.
The country announced on Wednesday, September 2, that people captured without face masks will be forced to remain inside a coffin as punishment.
According to Liputan News, the offenders would lie in an open coffin for a few minutes to feel what it was like to be there.
“However, the open casket idea is still a new concept as we are still experimenting with whether this approach can help change the public’s perception of wearing face masks.” said Budhy Novian, director of the law enforcement agency.
The Asian nation, in the wake of the pandemic, also introduced mandatory fines for violators as well as community service work to contain the spread of the virus.
The directive sparked backlash from social media users and government critics.
“People are not afraid of coffins, even couples are becoming intimate in the cemetery,”a Jakarta resident told BBC Asia.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that authorities were planning to back down and devise better ways to raise awareness about COVID-19 after strong backlash and criticism.
Every day, health officials hold a mock funeral procession through the city of Jakarta as a reminder of how deadly the virus can be.
The empty coffin is used as a shock tactic to warn the public about the risks of the coronavirus.
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