JAKARTA – Mosques usually filled for Friday prayers and streets normally clogged with cars and motorcycles were empty as authorities in Indonesia’s capital enforced stricter measures to halt the coronavirus’ spread after deaths spiked in the past week.
President Joko Widodo has ruled out a lockdown on the capital city despite the growing number of infections and has instead ordered social restrictions and mass testing.
The country of nearly 270 million people is reportedly able to process only 240 of the most accurate tests a day and is instead relying on rapid tests that are less effective.
Widodo cited Indonesian's cultural characteristics and discipline and the potential economic damage for ruling out a lockdown.