Tegal, Central Java has officially enforced a citywide lockdown, its mayor said, arguably the most drastic measure against COVID-19 in Indonesia thus far as the central government continues to reject the idea of shutting down all public activity.
Mayor Dedy Yon Supriyono said the city has enforced a “local lockdown” for at least four months, during which time access to the city will be closed for anyone wishing to enter or exit.
“Citizens must understand the policy that I have decided to enforce. If I could choose, it’s better for the people to hate me than for death to greet them,” Dedy said at a press conference on Wednesday evening, as quoted by Kompas.
From March 30 until July 30, all 49 road access in and out of the city will be blocked by movable concrete barriers. The city square and other public facilities will also be closed during that time.
Outsiders wishing to go to Tegal during the lockdown period must obtain dispensation from the city’s COVID-19 task force.
Dedy said that the city decided on the local lockdown after it confirmed its first COVID-19 positive case on Wednesday. As of Thursday, 54 Tegal citizens are under observation for possible coronavirus infection, while one patient suspected of having COVID-19, but hadn’t tested positive, has died.
Dedy said financial aid is available for low income citizens who are more likely to be affected by the city’s lockdown.
Tegal’s local lockdown is directly at odds with orders from the central government. President Joko Widodo has previously said, and reiterated on numerous occasions, that a nationwide lockdown is out of the question and that regional governments can’t enforce its own lockdowns.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo played down the apparent strictness of Tegal’s lockdown, saying that, after clarifying the matter with the mayor, it will only go as far as discouraging the gathering of large crowds and the shuttering of public facilities.
When asked about the local lockdown again today, Dedy said that his administration has no intention to go against the central government’s no-lockdown policy. He said that the concrete barriers will still be put up throughout the city as scheduled, but citizens will still be allowed to leave their homes to carry out essential activities during the local lockdown period.
As of March 26, Indonesia has 893 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 35 recoveries and 78 deaths.
