Public Poised to Face Covid-19

KOMPAS/LASTI KURNIA

An officer checks the temperature of a visitor at the corona virus information and prevention counter at a Kimia Farma outlet in Menteng, Jakarta, on Wednesday (4/3/2020). Kimia Farma prepares similar counters throughout its network of 1,300 dispensaries in various cities.

Public understanding appears to be increasing regarding the government’s effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19 caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). However, the government should increase public dissemination to prevent any unnecessary panic.

The public’s general response to Covid-19 was apparent in the results of a Kompas Research and Development survey conducted on 2-3 March 2020. Apart from actively keeping up to date on the virus and the disease it causes, the survey results showed that the public was also taking measures to prevent infection and anticipate any emergence of the disease in someone who had been exposed to the virus.

Most respondents of all educational levels and ages (80.5 percent) described the clinical symptoms of Covid-19 as coughing, fever, difficulty breathing and a sore throat. The relatively high percentage reflected the public’s active search for accurate information on the disease.

Over the past week, the majority of respondents (87.1 percent) have kept their hands clean, worn face masks and avoided direct contact with anybody showing the symptoms of Covid-19.

Belief in the public’s readiness in anticipating the spread of Covid-19 reflected the preventive efforts that had been taken. Over the past week, the majority of respondents (87.1 percent) have kept their hands clean, worn face masks and avoided direct contact with anybody showing the symptoms of Covid-19.

The public’s efforts at preventing the virus’ spread comply with the appeals made by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health Ministry. Practicing hand hygiene, for instance, complies with the WHO’s appeal for people to wash their hands with soap or clean them using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer each time they touch any surface or object. The WHO has also called on the public to maintain a minimum distance of 1 meter from anyone who is coughing or sneezing to prevent infection.

Health checks

The public’s readiness for Covid-19 was also seen in their general interest in having their health checked. Nine out of 10 respondents said they would go for a health check if they exhibited any early symptoms of Covid-19.

Eighty-six percent of respondents said they would take family or friends to the nearest health facility for a check-up if they showed any symptoms, indicating a direct relationship between public knowledge of Covid-19 and their intent to prevent its spread.

KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

A large banner about COVID-19 is installed in front of Soepraoen Hospital on Jl Supriadi, Malang city, East Java, as photographed on Wednesday (4/3/2020).

The public – especially those who live in urban areas – has a good understanding of the initial measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The public’s high level of readiness to go for a check-up should, of course, be matched by the readiness of health facilities in Indonesia. All regions should be ready, from puskesmas (community health centers) to hospitals, to anticipate a sharp increase in the number of people coming in for check-ups.

Respondents also voiced their concerns about Covid-19, with three out of four respondents feared they might be exposed to the virus.

Information measures needed

Public readiness to face Covid-19 is likely to benefit from Indonesia’s social capital. The spirit of mutual assistance in maintaining a clean environment, as well as social unity, is believed to be growing and to serve as capital in this difficult time.

The government should intensify its public information measures on Covid-19, its transmission and treatment, all the way down to the regional level, as not all members of the public have received direct information.

Four out of 10 respondents said they had received no public information on Covid-19 over the past month. Those respondents still without any access to public information were spread across several regions such as Medan, Palembang, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Pontianak, Makassar and Jayapura.

Measures to provide direct information to the public are needed to avoid mass hysteria. Such efforts are also necessary so that the public is better prepared to prevent Covid-19 infection.

The survey results show that 9.1 percent of respondents had done nothing to prevent Covid-19 infection, while more than half of the respondents had received no information on the disease.

Although the figure is small, it should be noted in planning strategies to minimize the spread of Covid-19 in certain regions.

In addition, 7.4 percent of respondents were hesitant about getting health checks independently to detect possible Covid-19 inflection. Although the figure is small, it should be noted in planning strategies to minimize the spread of Covid-19 in certain regions.

The government has thus far informed the public through the Health Ministry, which has also used social media to provide public information on how to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The Health Ministry has also used its social media account to debunk misinformation, for example that Covid-19 can be transmitted through staring or by cell phones and clothing. Most recently there has been misleading information about cities being declared “yellow zones” of Covid-19 transmission. The Social Affairs Ministry used its social media account to respond promptly to the hoax.

KOMPAS/VIDELIS JEMALI

The situation at an isolation room for suspected COVID-19 patients at Undata Hospital, Palu, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday (3/3/2020). The hospital has prepared a special room on the first floor for infected patients.

On the one hand, the government effort has been effective, with 46.9 percent of respondents obtaining information about the Covid-19 epidemic from social media. Nonetheless, direct public information efforts is still needed, especially for those social segments that do not actively use social media.

In any case, precautionary measures are an important step that the government and the public must take together to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The social capital of the public’s active efforts at prevention should be met with accelerated efforts by the government to provide complete information on Covid-19.

(DEDY AFRIANTO/Kompas R&D)