Indonesia’s government was slow to lock down, so its people took charge
Local quarantines have sprung up throughout the world’s largest island nation, but the end of Ramadan poses a severe test.
Crowds gather to receive aid distributed by the Indonesian Marines during the coronavirus pandemic in Gunung Sahari, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Photographs byMuhammad Fadli
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Jakarta, IndonesiaIn February, as the coronavirus victim count rose steadily in countries like Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, Indonesia maintained that there was not a single case within its borders. As the government steadfastly refused to instate social distancing, cancel events, or start mass testing, local communities started to feel differently.