COVID-19: Jakarta to impose progressive fines for not wearing masks in public

A mask is placed on the face of an “ondel-ondel” (giant Betawi effigy) in the Kramat Pulo area, Central Jakarta on Aug. 18. Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso via The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

JAKARTA — The Jakarta administration will start enforcing progressive fines for residents who do not wear a face mask in public as the capital struggles to curb COVID-19 transmissions.

The newly issued Gubernatorial Regulation No. 79/2020 states that violators will be fined Rp 250,000 (US$16.92) or required to participate in 60 minutes of community service.

The fine will be increased to Rp 500,000 or 120 minutes of community service for those who are caught violating the regulation a second time. Third-time offenders will be required to pay a Rp 750,000 fine or 180 minutes of community service, while the fourth and subsequent violations will result in a Rp 1 million fine or 240 minutes of community service.

The city’s Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) has been tasked to enforce the regulation, with possible assistance from the National Police and Indonesian Military (TNI).

“Satpol PP personnel will record the names, addresses and identification numbers of violators in a database or information system,” the regulation states.

The regulation was issued amid rising COVID-19 cases the capital. The national epicenter of the outbreak, Jakarta recorded 657 new cases on Friday, bringing the total to 32,267, according to the central government’s official tally.

Despite the increase, many Jakartans are still ignoring health protocols. According to Satpol PP data, the city has collected Rp 1.7 billion in fines from 11,680 violators as of Thursday, based on a previous regulation that fines people Rp 250,000 for not wearing a face mask in public. More than 80,000 people have also been required to do community service as part of the penalty.

“We hope that the fine can give a deterrent effect so Jakartans will follow the rules better,” Jakarta Satpol PP chief Arifin told kompas.com on Friday.