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Toilet duty for Jakarta's social distancing violators

Latrine duty is among a range of punishments listed in new rules against COVID-19



A general view shows the business district in the capital Jakarta, Indonesia.
Image Credit: Reuters

Indonesians who violate social distancing rules in the capital could soon find themselves forced to clean toilets to atone for their sins.

Latrine duty is among a range of punishments listed in new rules aimed at battling coronavirus infections in the Southeast Asian megacity of Jakarta.

Going outside without a mask can result in a 250,000 rupiah ($17) fine, while residents gathering in crowds could be forced to clean public facilities - including toilets - while wearing a vest that labels them as rule-breakers.

Firms that ignore shutdown orders or violate public-health rules can be hit with fines of up to 50 million rupiah under rules made public this week.

Jakarta - a sprawling city home to some 30 million - imposed a partial lockdown last month as virus infections surged and critics warned of a looming public health disaster.

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Several other Indonesian cities have put similar restrictions in place, but violations are prevalent.

At the weekend, several hundred people gathered in downtown Jakarta to mark the closure of a fast-food restaurant, sparking widespread criticism.

On Tuesday, Indonesia's COVID-19 death toll hit 1,007 with nearly 14,749 confirmed cases.

But the true toll is believed to be much higher in the country of more than 260 million.

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