Coronavirus Indonesia: can Jakarta get its raging Covid-19 outbreak under control?

The stakes are high for the capital city of 10 million people, which indirectly contributes to about 60 per cent of the country’s economy

Experts say Indonesia, which has the highest death toll in Southeast Asia, is still in its first wave of infections despite earlier social-distancing restrictions

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Jakarta residents wearing face masks as a precaution against Covid-19 cross the road in the capital’s central business district. Photo: AP

Published: 9:30am, 22 Sep 2020Updated: 7:38pm, 25 Sep 2020

Since Indonesia’s capital Jakarta reimposed social-distancing restrictions last Monday, motorcycle ride-hailing driver Yosef has seen his daily income decrease by more than 80 per cent – some days, he only takes home around 50,000 rupiah (US$3.40).

Under the stricter regulations, known locally by the acronym PSBB, most workplaces have to keep the bulk of their employees at home, and while shopping centres can remain open, no dining in is allowed. Residents caught outside without masks will be tasked with social work or receive a fine that starts from 250,000 rupiah.

The restrictions will be in place until Sunday, but could be extended until October 11 if there is a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases – a possibility that deeply worries Yosef.

“Do not extend it again – pity those from the lower middle class,” said the 38-year-old father of two, adding that he had already borrowed money from his neighbours to get by.

Six months after Indonesia reported its first cases, the country is struggling with mounting infections. It reported 4,071 new cases on Tuesday, bringing its total to 252,923, with 9,837 fatalities – the highest death toll in Southeast Asia.

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Some 10 million people live in overcrowded Jakarta, a figure that goes up to 30 million when the metropolitan area surrounding the city is included. With a quarter of all cases in Indonesia, it is the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak across the sprawling archipelago’s 34 provinces.