Covid-19: Indonesian scientists call for lockdown ahead of Ramadan

Pigeons gather on Sunday in the otherwise deserted Fatahillah Square in Kota Tua, West Jakarta. The Jakarta administration has decided to temporarily close parks and tourist attractions to help contain the spread of Covid-19. - JP/ANN

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/ANN): A group of scientists from the Indonesian Young Scientist Forum has called on the government to impose a lockdown on areas that have been deemed hot zones of the Covid-19 outbreak, in an effort to contain the virus' spread ahead of Ramadan and the Idul Fitri holiday in April and May.

In a letter addressed to Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, the scientists requested an official meeting to contribute to the government’s policymaking process with regard to the public health crisis ahead of the major religious holiday.