Indonesia Muslims take part in Friday prayers at a mosque, amidst the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Klaten, Central Java Province, Indonesia, June 5, 2020, in this picture taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho/ through REUTERS. ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. COMPULSORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT.
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesians in Jakarta returned to mosques on Friday for prayers after the city relaxed rules on going to locations of worship as part of a loosening of limitations in location considering that late March to consist of the spread of the coronavirus.Jakarta’s guv on Thursday revealed some easing of restrictions including attending mosques for communal prayers but cautioned the battle against the outbreak was far from over in southeast Asia’s biggest city.
Indonesia has been the hardest-hit nation in east Asia outside China from the pandemic and Jakarta has been the epicentre of the break out, with 7,766 cases and 523 deaths.
” I rejoice that I can return to the mosque … due to the fact that there’s a distinction in hoping from home,” stated Deko Ronal Rafiyanto, 41, at the Al Azhar mosque in South Jakarta.
Under the brand-new guidelines, places of worship must limit capability. Visitors to the Al Azhar mosque used masks and had their temperature taken before getting in.
” I hope it is safe, and we are following the health procedure,” stated Muhammad Yasin,50
Some public transport has actually resumed operations and offices and shopping malls are due to open in the city over the next 2 weeks.
On Friday, rush hour in parts of Jakarta showed a return to what authorities have dubbed a new normal.
Jakarta has maintained some social restrictions though in current weeks there have actually been indications of people flouting guidelines including by flocking to markets at the end of the Muslim fasting month, triggering outrage on social media.
” I’m pretty fretted. Because many people out there do not take the risk of this infection seriously,” stated I Gede Mahista Ardi Pratama, a bank employee, speaking near a main Jakarta workplace complex.
Extra reporting by Johan Purnomo; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Janet Lawrence
Reuters.
