Government Action against COVID-19 Pandemic

The WHO on Thursday recorded 125,964 COVID-19 cases in 115 countries with 4,634 deaths.WHO have made the assessment that COVID-19 can be categorized as a pandemic.

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

Plane passengers from South Korea are examined by health quarantine officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Thursday (12/3/2020). The examination included checking body temperature with an infrared thermometer and thermal scanner.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. The decision affirms that control over this disease should be jointly carried out in a comprehensive way but under one strict command.

The WHO on Thursday recorded 125,964 COVID-19 cases in 115 countries with 4,634 deaths.

“We have made the assessment that COVID-19 can be categorized as a pandemic,” said WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Also read : Expanding Detection of Covid-19 Transmission

In this context, an epidemiologist at the School of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, said in Jakarta that the government should more seriously deal with COVID-19. Coordination between the central government and regional administrations needs reorganizing.

“Our country isn’t serious yet in the face of a pandemic. There’s no contingency plan yet to respond to various possibilities of disease transmission. Regional administrations are working without any clear command,” he said.

Also read : Standing Together Against Covid-19

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Officers from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spray disinfectant liquid at Gambir Station, Central Jakarta, Thursday (12/3/2020). BNPB took this step following President Joko Widodo\'s order to clean up at public facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

With the absence of a clear and structured command in overcoming COVID-19 in the country, each ministry and agency seems to be working on its own. “Cross-sectorial cooperation is absolutely required,” he added.

In fact, several countries have been on guard against a COVID-19 pandemic. The isolation of Hubei province, China and a number of major cities was the key to China’s successful control of COVID-19. Based on an analysis of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, China’s success in controlling COVID-19 is attributable to the effective leadership of President Xi Jinping.

As soon as the outbreak of COVID-19, Xi and Prime Minister Li Keqiang instructed all ranks of their government to observe its further developments. The National Health Commission and local authorities then activated emergency response systems. This resulted in the rapid mobilization of resources.

Cross-sectorial cooperation is absolutely required

Meanwhile, South Korea has not isolated itself, although there are more than 7,700 COVID-19 cases. However, the government is being transparent in the management of COVID-19 with open information, public participation and extensive examinations. In a day, South Korea makes 15,000 checks to screen those with positive COVID-19. As of Wednesday (11/3), 220,000 examinations were conducted in more than 500 health facilities.

Iran has opened itself up to foreign aid. This country receives aid in the form of diagnostic equipment from China and Russia. Local authorities spray disinfectants massively in office buildings, settlements and public places. Although no quarantine is imposed on a region, the Iranian government has closed schools and universities.

The various moves, according to Indonesian Red Cross General Chairman Jusuf Kalla, have been prompted by the pressure of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

Kompas/Riza Fathoni

Officers from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spray disinfectant liquid at Gambir Station, Central Jakarta, Thursday (12/3/2020). BNPB took this step following President Joko Widodo\'s order to clean up at public facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Very fast

The spread of COVID-19 has been very fast. However, in Kalla’s view, Indonesia is certainly capable of breaking the link of COVID-19 transmission. The government should not hesitate to take strategic and quick action because the loss to be incurred by allowing COVID-19 to spread is greater. “It’s like the impact of the trade war of China (with the US). It’s dozens of times bigger,” added Kalla.

According to Central Board Executive for Policy and Health Affairs of the Indonesian Public Health Specialists Association, Syahrizal Syarif, the other measure to be taken by the government in facing the COVID-19 pandemic is to make available more health personnel and volunteers to detect cases in all parts of Indonesia. More extensive examinations of people with the risk of being infected should be conducted.

Vigilance

Government spokesman for coronavirus management, Achmad Yurianto, said the Indonesian government was increasing vigilance as soon as the WHO’s declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. “The President instructed ministers at a meeting to heighten alertness, but there should be no panic,” he said.

The WHO statement declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic constitutes a signal to the world that the disease can infect anybody in whatever country. “The state will make stronger response. Control efforts are being intensified because this is pronounced a pandemic,” added Yurianto.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

People walk to a pedestrian tunnel after exiting the Transjakarta Kota bus stop in West Jakarta, Thursday (12/3/2020). Public transportation users are expected to play an active role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by, among other measures, maintaining personal hygiene, wearing masks, especially if they are sick, not spitting or coughing carelessly and getting check ups at available health posts.

The government is intensifying the control of the new coronavirus. It is done among others by tracing contact made by the vulnerable group, isolating patients with positive Covid-19 and patients being monitored as well as watching over people with the status of under surveillance.

The government also limits the traffic of people leaving or entering Indonesia. The lockdown policy as adopted by several countries will not be chosen because the isolation of a region hasn’t yet been proven to be effective for the control of virus transmission.

The government is preparing health facilities and infrastructure to overcome the pandemic. The government guarantees the stocks of 15 million masks, 10,000 kits for specimen examinations, self-protection devices and drugs. Regional general hospitals and private hospitals are ready to take care of COVID-19 patients.

Some regions are increasing alertness by providing more self-protection devices for medical personnel. But other regions still face the constraint of limited self-protection devices and other equipment in the effort to anticipate COVID-19 infection.

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

Screens display thermal scanner information at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Thursday (12/3/2020). This tool, which detects the body temperature of people passing by, will give a warning if it detects temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius.

A total of 12 patients were under surveillance yesterday. A number of regions, including Pontianak, Banda Aceh, Palangkaraya, Bandung city, Surabaya and Denpasar reported several patients suspected of contracting COVID-19. A suspected coronavirus patient died at Dr Moewardi Regional General Hospital, Surakarta, on Wednesday (11/3) at 1 p.m.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit tourism in various regions, among others Banyuwangi, East Java, and Lake Toba, North Sumatra. The Culture and Tourism Office of Banyuwangi regency estimates that the number of foreign tourists to the region in February dropped by 60 percent compared with the same period last year due to cancellation of their visits. (KOMPAS TEAM)