Infected Cities #2: Jakarta

Skyline Jakarta

Remco Vermeulen

Infected Cities #2: Jakarta

What is the impact of the coronavirus on Jakarta? How does civil society repond to the crisis? And what role does culture play?

Thursday 14 May 2020 14:00 - Thursday 14 May 2020 15:00

This LIVECAST was broadcasted live on Thursday May 14 and has been recorded. Watch the episode via the video below!

Infected Cities

The COVID-19 pandemic has an enormous impact on cities worldwide on areas such as employment, health care, social services and the economy, both now and in the coming period. As the coronavirus has begun to hit urban areas, we see cities changing from vibrant places into epicenters of the corona crisis. In the second part of the new Infected Cities series we will look at how the capital Jakarta is currently dealing with this pandemic. During this LIVECAST we will have conversations with different experts and journalists about the current and future impact of this crisis in Jakarta. Also, together with Pakhuis de Zwijger, we will listen to voices of different ‘city makers’ such as artists, creatives and volunteers and their situation. In particular, experts in Indonesia with a connection to the Netherlands. The speakers will give us an insight into their daily works and explain how they commit to making a positive impact during this pandemic and what kind of support there is needed for those who currently suffer the most.

Background of the corona crisis in Jakarta

Even though the corona crisis was raging through Southeast Asia and Europe for several months, the first patient in Indonesia was only confirmed in the beginning of March. Currently more than 4,500 corona cases have been registered in Jakarta, the country’s megacity. This seems however just the tip of the iceberg, considering its metropolitan area has more than 30 million inhabitants.

Even though the Jakarta government wanted to impose strict measures against the spreading of the virus fast, it was slowed down by the central government. President Joko Widodo stressed that the economic impact of closing down the capital city, in which millions of people are working in the informal sector and at risk of losing their only sources of income, would be significant. Finally, in early April, Jakarta was allowed to impose strict mobility measures, which are currently being copied by other cities throughout the archipelago.

Social impact of corona

With the Ramadan and traditional ‘return to the home villages’ of millions of Jakartans approaching, all domestic traveling by plane, train and boat has been halted. Considering Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world, this has a huge social impact. How do the political (and religious) forces influence the response to the coronavirus? Who are the real victims of the crisis: the ill or the unemployed? What is the impact of the closed borders for Indonesia’s tourism sector (ca. 9% of its GDP)? And how does civic society, including grassroots organizations, artists and cultural institutes, respond to the crisis?

New cultural initiatives

Everywhere in Jakarta museums, temples and tourist attractions have been closed to the public. Theaters, concert halls and community centres had to cancel their programming. But despite these circumstances, artists and cultural institutions are responding proactively and coming up with innovative ways to reach out to their audiences. From online performances, digitals tours and movie screenings to interactive workshops and training, the creatives of Jakarta do their bit to offer comfort in the current corona-reality.