Governor Anies Baswedan has imposed new restrictions in Jakarta for the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, which essentially amount to slight upgrades from existing rules.
The new restrictions, which are outlined in a Gubernatorial Instruction (Ingub) and a Gubernatorial Appeal (Sergub), is set to be enforced from Dec. 18 to Jan. 8 to encourage people to stay home as much as possible amid expected increased mobility during the holidays.
Among the key points include a 50 percent cap on non-essential offices, which is the same as in the current rules, but workplaces will be expected to close at 7pm during the period.
Malls and restaurants are allowed to open until 9pm, but they must shut two hours early on Dec. 24-27 and Dec. 31-Jan. 3. Cinemas are allowed to begin their last showing at 7pm at the latest.
“We are enforcing stricter restrictions when the potential for outside activity is great on Dec. 24-27 and Dec. 31-Jan. 3. This is a period where most people should remain at home,” Anies said yesterday.
Travelers entering Jakarta by road will also be required to present a non-reactive result from a rapid antigen test from Dec. 18 to Jan. 8. This is an added requirement from existing regulations requiring test results from those entering the capital by air, rail, or sea.
The end-of-year break has been a thorn in the government’s side until it officially shortened what would have been 11 uninterrupted days off from Christmas until after the New Year. The decision came after a spike in cases in November throughout Indonesia, including Jakarta, was attributed to a long weekend in late October.
