Last month, the rising number of COVID-19 cases led the DKI Jakarta provincial government to put an emergency brake on the Transitional PSBB period and re-enact Large-Scale Social Restrictions (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar or "PSBB").

Now, the Jakarta governor, Anies Baswedan, has decided to once again loosen the PSBB restrictions and return to the transitional phase ("PSBB Transition"). Citing a decrease in the number of new and active COVID-19 cases and the lower mortality rate over the past week, the governor said he felt it was time to slowly let off the brake and gradually loosen restrictions starting October 12.

This re-enacted PSBB Transition (PSBB Transition 2.0), which will last at least until October 25, comes with several new rules, provided under DKI Jakarta Governor Regulation No. 101 of 2020 dated October 9, 2020 ("Governor Reg. 101/2020"), which amends DKI Jakarta Governor Regulation No. 79 of 2020 regarding the Implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions during the Transition Period to a Healthy, Safe and Productive Public ("Governor Reg. 79/2020").

Essentially, the new regulation maintains the provisions under Governor Reg. 79/2020 whereby individuals and persons in charge of public places, workplaces, industrial areas and tourist attractions must implement required health protocols (such as mandatory use of masks, temperature taking, physical distancing, 50% capacity limit, routine disinfection, etc.). However, Governor Reg. 101/2020 introduces the following additional measures:

Additional Health Protocols

  1. All persons in charge of public places, workplaces, industrial areas and tourist attractions must form a COVID-19 Task Force and monitor COVID-19 updates/information.
  2. A system to collect data on all visitors must be implemented. Data shall include name, ID number, phone number, date and time of visit. Collection can be done manually or digitally.
  3. The data shall be submitted to the Jakarta Government through the Jakarta Department of Manpower, Transmigration and Energy (DTKTE) for the purpose of contact tracing.
  4. There must be at least a three-hour gap between work shifts.
  5. Technology must be utilized to prevent crowding/direct contact.
  6. If a COVID-19 case is confirmed, the area must be closed for at least three full days to allow cleaning and disinfection.
  7. If a worker is found to be positive for the coronavirus, the employer/person in charge must provide the worker the necessary health protections in accordance with prevailing law.

Capacity Exemption for Essential Industries

Capacity limitations are waived for workplaces in 11 essential industries (communication and information technology; construction; energy; finance; food and beverage; health; hospitality; logistics; basic services; strategic industries; and public utilities and industries designated as vital objects, national and specific objects, and/or daily necessities). These workplaces may operate at what they determine to be necessary capacity.

Special Protocols for Various Industries

The governor laid out special protocols for different facilities and industries, including rules on capacity and operational hours.

Factories, markets, malls, warehouses, retail stores, restaurants, salons, outdoor sports facilities, museums and galleries, and places of worship may operate at 50% capacity.

Fitness centers and gyms may operate at 25% capacity and individuals must maintain a physical distance of at least two meters. Group training sessions are only allowed outdoors and indoor fitness facilities must have proper air circulation.

Indoor activities at close proximity (meetings, seminars, going to the cinema, ceremonies and attending the theatre) are limited to 25% capacity. There must be a minimum of 1.5 meters between each seat and visitors are prohibited from moving about the venue. Any facility in this category must first submit an application to the DKI Jakarta government for approval to open. The application must be accompanied by detailed health protocols.

Places with a high risk of infection such as nightclubs, spas and karaoke venues are still prohibited from operating.

Transportation Protocols

Mass transportation may operate based on the capacity and operational rules determined by the Jakarta Transportation Office or the Ministry of Transportation.

Following the announcement of the PSBB Transition period, the TransJakarta busway made changes to its operational policies, extending its operating hours to between 5 am and 10 pm.

Car and motorcycle passengers must wear masks and vehicles must be disinfected after use. Each car may have a maximum of two people per row unless all the passengers live under one roof.

Contact Tracing

If a worker/individual in a workplace/public facility/area is found to have been in close contact with someone who has contracted COVID-19 or is suspected or confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus, the person in charge of the workplace/facility/area or the local COVID-19 Task Force must immediately do the following:

  1. Report the case and coordinate with the public health center or Health Office (Dinas Kesehatan).
  2. Temporarily suspend on-site activities in the workplace/facility/area for 3 x 24 hours to allow cleaning and disinfection.
  3. Clean all areas and surfaces touched by the worker/individual.
  4. Disinfect all contaminated facilities and equipment.
  5. Ensure air circulation in the contaminated area.
  6. Facilitate health screenings and quarantines for other workers/individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.

The worker/individual in close contact or suspected of contracting the coronavirus based on the epidemiology results must immediately take an RT-PCR test/TCM/Antigen Rapid Test administered by the Jakarta Government. If the result is negative/non-reactive but the individual is experiencing symptoms that do not require medical care, that person must immediately isolate themselves in the controlled isolation facility in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, or in a hotel/inn/guesthouse. If the test result is positive/reactive, the individual must go to the referral hospital and seek medical care and further epidemiology/contact tracing shall be done.

Sanctions

Persons in charge of workplaces/public facilities/industrial areas/tourist attractions that fail to adhere to the required health protocols and obligations face a sanction in the form of a fine ranging from Rp. 50 million to Rp. 150 million and temporary closure for three full days.

Persons in charge of restaurants/cafes that fail to adhere to the required health protocols and obligations face a sanction in the form of a fine ranging from Rp. 50 million to Rp. 150 million and temporary closure for 1 X 24 hours.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.