Cardinal of Jakarta: May all places of prayer be 'Covid-free'

The cardinal’s appeal as Jakarta becomes a "red zone", with the highest rate of positive cases in the entire archipelago. At present there are 165,887 positive cases across Indonesia, with 7,169 deaths.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - In a rare pastoral message via video, Card. Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta has invited all the faithful (and not only) to make every place of prayer "Covid-free".

The cardinal underlined in 11 necessary points for the faithful including to wear masks, practice social distancing, avoid leaving the house unless for urgent needs, stay away from large gatherings.

The cardinal’s appeal, addressed not only to Christians, follows the launch of new anti-Covid regulations by the Jakarta authorities, which will be applied from today until September 11.

What begins today is the fourth phase of the fight against Covid-19. The others took place from 3 to 30 July; from 31 July to 13 August; from 14 to 27 August.

The government indications point first of all on the “wide social distancing (Psbb, Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar) and on the prohibition to travel outside the capital unless in possession of a medical certificate which guarantees the holder is not infected by the virus.

Jakarta has in fact become a "red zone", with the highest rate of positive cases in the entire archipelago. At present there are 165,887 positive cases across Indonesia, with 7,169 deaths.

Observers point out that Card. Suharyo also strongly emphasizes self-discipline. Indonesians - it is said - “are very undisciplined: no respect for punctuality; circumvention of public regulations; anarchy in compliance with traffic rules ... ".

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