Sidoarjo, E Java (ANTARA) - Some 54 people recently violating health protocols were meted out punishment by necessitating them to pray at the graves of the victims of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Delta Praloyo cemetery, Sidoarjo, East Java.
Most health protocol violators did not wear masks while venturing outdoors, Chief of the Sidoarjo City Police Senior Commissioner Sumardji stated here on Saturday.
The punishment is belted out as part of the efforts to serve as a deterrent effect on violators of the health protocols.
"It seems that social punishment for health protocol violators in connection with clean public facilities did not have a deterrent effect, so we take the initiative to order violators to pray together at the graves of COVID-19 victims in Sidoarjo," he explained.
They were rounded up for not wearing masks when police, military, and public order agency (Satpol PP) personnel raided coffee shops and cafes during the night curfew, he stated.
"Currently, several residents of Sidoarjo continue to ignore health protocols. The level of discipline among residents, particularly those not wearing masks and violating night curfew, is still low," he pointed out.
Security agencies have regularly conducted raids by using social punishment to bring to book violators. However, the punishment had yet to deter them, he stated.
"This is part of our efforts to deter them. In addition, the punishment is aimed at sending across a moral message to the residents of Sidoarjo on the concrete dangers of COVID-19," he added.
