‘Ghosts’ scare Indonesians into social distancing to slow coronavirus spread
Java residents who flout social-distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic are being booed – by roving enforcers dressed as ghosts, according to a report.
The mysterious figures have been spotted in the Indonesian village of Kepuh, where they help get people into the spirit of avoiding public places to ward off the deadly bug, Reuters reported.
Known as “pocong,” the apparitions are wrapped in white sheets with powdered faces and kohl-rimmed eyes, an Indonesian folklore that represents the trapped souls of the dead.
“We wanted to be different and create a deterrent effect because ‘pocong’ are spooky and scary,” said Anjar Pancaningtyas, head of a local youth group that coordinated the scary tactic with police.
Enlarge ImageVolunteers Deri Setyawan, 25, and Septian Febriyanto, 26, sit on a bench as they play the role of 'pocong', or known as 'shroud ghost', to make people stay at home amid the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), outside the gate of Kepuh village in Sukoharjo regency, Central Java province, Indonesia.
Volunteers Deri Setyawan, 25, and Septian Febriyanto, 26, sit on a bench as they play the role of ‘pocong’, or known as ‘shroud ghost’, to make people stay at home amid the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia.
REUTERS
But the early efforts had the opposite effect, as people sought to catch a glimpse of the ghouls — so the organizers have changed their tactics by launching surprise pocong patrols using local volunteers.
President Joko Widodo has resisted a national lockdown, instead urging people to practice social distancing and proper hygiene.
But with the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in Asia after China, some communities, including Kepuh, have decided to take matters into their own hands.
“Residents still lack awareness about how to curb the spread of COVID-19 disease,” village chief Priyadi told Reuters. “They want to live like normal so it is very difficult for them to follow the instruction to stay at home.”
Indonesia has recorded 4,241 confirmed cases of the illness, which has claimed 373 lives in the country.
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