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JAKARTA, Sept. 13 (The Straits Times / ANN): Residents of the Indonesian capital are dejected, angry, anxious and pessimistic about the future.
This follows the announcement that Jakarta will have to endure tighter restrictions again for the second time starting Monday (Sept. 14), as Covid-19 cases inexorably rise in the city of more than 10 million.
Entertainment venues will be closed, restaurants and cafes will only offer delivery and takeout, and non-essential staff will work from home.
When the restrictions, better known here by the local acronym PSBB, were first imposed on April 10, the initial public reaction was one of fear of infection.
But not so this time. Many, in fact, expected Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to suspend the measures.
Fish cake soup vendor Okky Satria, 27, told The Straits Times: “I feel like a ping-pong ball, bouncing from side to side.
“Why should we go through this again? People in other countries never had to. When the government lifted the restrictions, it should be forever,” he said.
Then he got angry, especially at those who ignored safe distancing measures, as well as the government for failing to impose discipline and being harsh on rule breakers.
“I hate people who don’t wear masks. Frankly, I have refused to serve anyone without a mask. They are the biggest culprits,” said Okky, who now expects the business to plummet.
He said his daily income had started to rebound just two weeks ago, hitting five million rupees (S $ 460) on weekends, which was only half the amount he used to earn before the pandemic took over. city in March.
“I am so disappointed now. The government should have been tougher,” he said with resignation.
Okky’s feelings resonate throughout the city.
Jakarta began easing restrictions on June 4, but still maintained social distancing measures.
Most residents, perhaps reluctantly, now accept the need for tougher measures, but the impact on livelihoods is difficult to absorb.
On Friday, two days after announcing the new restrictions, Governor Anies posted on Facebook: “Please prepare well.
“This is the time to come together and work together to fight this virus,” he added.
Indonesia has registered 214,746 confirmed cases of Covid-19, of which 52,840 were from Jakarta. The death toll rose to 8,650 nationwide, with 1,386 reported in Jakarta alone as of Saturday (September 12).
Anies was forced to reinstate tough measures after the surge in cases put enormous pressure on Jakarta’s hospitals and their healthcare workers.
The crisis has put millions of Indonesians out of work and analysts have warned of a sharp rise in the ranks of the poor. Inevitably, Southeast Asia’s largest economy of 270 million, like many others around the world, will suffer its first recession in more than two decades.
Informal workers and the urban poor have been the hardest hit by the economic consequences of the pandemic, with many believed to have left Jakarta in recent days to return to their villages.
Muhammad Rusli, 47, who runs a motorcycle steam wash shop in South Jakarta, said his neighbor had returned to his village in Subang, West Java province.
“He has no choice, as he will have no income. At least in his kampung, he can survive, as his parents and other relatives will help him,” Rusli said.
Rusli is already anticipating a game of cat and mouse with the authorities because he hopes to continue operating his business despite the restrictions.
“When they come, I will close my store. When they leave, I will reopen. They have no right to tell me to stop making money,” she said in frustration, adding that she had three children to feed.
He said: “Why worry about the coronavirus? Death and disease are God’s will. No one, not even the government, should intervene, otherwise it would be a sin.”
Street vendor Herman, who sells hair accessories from a wheelbarrow, also said he would “continue to roam the streets.”
“I’m just worried about having fewer clients,” he said.
Understandably, most people are preoccupied with basic issues.
Hajoran Siregar, 49, who rents dormitories to office workers in Jakarta’s business district, said only half of his property is currently occupied.
“We used to be full. Some of them left because their office decided to let everyone work from home until the end of the year,” he said.
A check with mosques, supermarkets and wet markets found business as usual in most places. Unlike in April, there were no signs of panic. Five months ago, shoppers could be seen in a hurry clearing the shelves as they stocked up on instant noodles, bottled water and other staples.
“We’ve been through a lockdown before. I’m sure things will work out normally. The last time I stocked up on food, nothing happened. Why panic now?” said a buyer, who just wanted to be known as Agus.
However, he was less indifferent to the prospects for his shrimp rice business.
“I’m not worried about Jakarta running out of food, but I am concerned if I can afford to put that food on the table for my family,” he said. – The Straits Times / Asian News Network
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