Jakarta – In light of the upcoming 75th Independence Day celebration, the Greater Jakarta administration has restricted any events that attract crowds amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in the capital.
"Any activity that involves crowds and at which it is impossible to implement health protocols will be canceled," Jakarta Gubernatorial and Foreign Affairs Bureau head Muhammad Mawardi said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the national flag-hoisting ceremony will still take place on Aug. 17 under strict COVID-19 health protocols.
In a circular distributed by the State Secretariat, it is stated that the ceremony this year will only be attended by six people, namely President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Bambang Soesatyo, Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi, Indonesian Military commander Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police chief Gen. Idham Aziz.
Three national flag-hoisting team members will also be involved in the ceremony. The circular also says that the State Secretariat urges flag-hoisting ceremony organizers in other regions to follow the State Palace's example. (dpk)