Kissing or touching one's forehead to the hand of an elder is a traditional show of respect in many parts of Indonesia, but it reportedly led to the emergence of a COVID-19 cluster in the city of Tangerang.
Tangerang Mayor Arief Wismansyah said that nine residents in the city were infected with the coronavirus after kissing the hand of an elderly man. Arief said the contact occurred when they visited the man, who is a revered Quran teacher, at his home.
"The Quran teacher infected nine people," Arief said today. "He doesn't teach anymore due to his old age. But when people are greeting [someone older], like it or not they have to kiss their hands, well, because he's someone who is respected [in the community]."
Arief then urged the public to continue implementing health protocols and reminded them not to kiss hands or engage in any physical contact, even to those who they respect the most.
As of today, Tangerang City has recorded 789 COVID-19 cases, including 44 deaths and 187 patients in treatment. The city has just extended a Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) protocol for two more weeks until Sep. 6 as there is little to indicate that the daily count of COVID-10 in the city is slowing down.