Jakarta's Kota Tua to be Closed on New Year's Eve

TheIndonesia.id - The West Jakarta Government will close the Kota Tua area on New Year's Eve from December 31, 2021, to January 1, 2022. The regulation is stipulated in Decree of the Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Office of Jakarta Province Number 789 of 2021.

"The Kota Tua Fatahillah Park will be closed on December 31 and January 1, 2022," Head of the West Jakarta Tourism, Creative Economy Sub-department, Sherly Yuliana, quoted by Antara on Wednesday, December 29, 2021.

The closure aims to prevent crowds on New Year's Eve so that the spread of COVID-19 can be suppressed. Several other places are also limiting the operating hours during New Year's Eve.

Restaurants and some entertainment establishments may only operate until 9 p.m. local time. The regulation is also issued in a decree by the Jakarta Creative and Economic Tourism Office.

"Restaurants, cafes, or bars, particularly from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022, (can) operate (until) 10 p.m. local time, 'close bill' at 9 p.m. local time, and the managers must vacate their business establishments at 10 p.m. local time," Yuliana revealed.

Yuliana expects all business owners to comply with these regulations, as a measure to maintain order during New Year's Eve.

Head of Public Relations at the Greater Jakarta Police Force, Senior Commissioner Endra Zulpan, stated here on Tuesday, December 28, that some eight thousand personnel from the Greater Jakarta Police Force, with more from the national defense force and the Jakarta Provincial Government, would monitor all business premises.

 They would check the items required following the health protocols, such as the availability of hand sanitizers, sinks, and the PeduliLindungi barcode, at all business establishments.

They would also ensure that these venues were closed according to the set operating hours. If officers come across business establishments violating these regulations, they will revoke their business permits.

The officers will also patrol every residential area to raid and put a stop to celebrations involving firecrackers or fireworks as a measure to maintain order and peace during New Year's Eve. Zulpan expects Jakarta's residents to follow the government's advice to not host New Year parties that use firecrackers.

"It is recommended to not play with fireworks or (initiate) mass gatherings. Let us all be empathetic. The COVID-19 pandemic situation is not over yet, and new cases of the Omicron variant have increased," he emphasized.