Mayor closes floating market related to COVID-19

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Banjarmasin Mayor H Ibnu Sina closed floating market attraction at the Martapura River embankment (popularly known as siring) on Jalan Piere Tendean for 14 days to avoid the spread of COVID-19.


Ibnu Sina here on Wednesday (March 18, 2020) said the sudden closure of the attraction --which only open on Saturday and Sunday-- was to avoid people of making crowd that is prone to the outbreak of the highly infectious disease.

"But we don't close siring river tourism. We ask people to be wary when they go there," he said.

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Ibnu Sina did not state he would close the Floating Market in Kuin, North Banjarmasin, which has daily activities.

He stated he would close the car-free day activities usually held on Sunday on the road just at the fron of the Grand Mosque Sabilal Muhtadin Banjarmasin.

He also called on all night entertainment facilities to close for the next 14 days.

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The city government, he said, has decided to canceled all events, including tourism, this month. "One of which is the Kampung Banjar Festival, we also cancel it," he declared.

But now, what is now under consideration is the yearly Ramadan Cake Fair and is said to wait for the next 14 days.

He confirmed, there had not been found yet a positive case of COVID-19 in Banjarmasin, but the vigilance have to be increased earlier, and the status is now on emergency alert.

"So we protect ourselves together by increasing our alertness, always washing hands with soap, avoiding places that have the potentials to spread the virus," he said.