Shutting Down City that Never Sleeps to Contain Global Outbreak

Singapore established a measurable system of the epidemic to curb the spread of the Covid-19. This is not a unilateral policy applied to certain areas only. For Indonesia, it is never too late to implement a policy.

KOMPAS/PEMKOT BOGOR

Bogor Mayor Bima Arya gave a press conference at Bogor City Hall on Monday (16/3/2020) after a work visit from Turkey and Azerbaijan.

A special call has been made by Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto, currently under self-isolation alongside his family after an official trip to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Both countries have COVID-19 cases, even if the numbers are still smaller than Indonesia’s.

“There is always a silver lining. The world is having a detox. Let’s enjoy this opportunity to gather with our families. Do not go out and travel. Just stay at your home with your family. It is time for our children to be together with us and the whole family,” Bima said in an official statement that later went viral, on Sunday (15/3/2020).

Also read : Budget Reallocation to Focus on Covid-19

Bima said parents should ensure that their children, who currently must study at home, have access to their school tasks online. He said it is time to live healthily, do an adequate amount of exercise at your home, enjoy your breakfasts, eat healthily, have enough rest, wash your hands with soap and running water and pray continuously.

On social media, various calls to see the COVID-19 in a positive light were proven to be calming. Among them is that since everyone is staying home, the hustle and bustle in major cities has been reduced drastically. As humankind is waging war against the outbreak caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Earth has gained a much-needed break and some alone time.

Amid these calming calls, a new awareness must grow that COVID-19 is spreading, at least in Indonesia. As of earlier this week, the infectious disease had spread from at least five provinces to eight provinces across Indonesia. At least five people have died from the disease.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Office employees walk through the Jl. Kendal tunnel in Central Jakarta after work hours on Monday (16/3/2020). The government has urged residents to reduce activities in public spaces, including by encouraging them to work at home to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. However, not all offices have implemented such a policy.

In Jakarta, the disease has spread to all five municipalities. As quoted from the website corona.jakarta.go.id on Monday, the capital has 169 people in isolation, while another 154 people have been declared healthy and allowed to go home.

Considering the expanding outbreak, the Jakarta administration has implemented a social distancing policy for the past two weeks. The policy aims to prevent people from gathering in large crowds.

Also read : Stop the Spread of Covid-19 Immediately

Other than canceling several permits for activities that involve huge crowds, the Formula-E race that is supposed to be held later this year has also been postponed. The weekly car-free day event held every Sunday has been suspended. Similar policies have also been implemented in Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.

On Sunday, Greater Jakarta seemed more peaceful and quiet. Afterwards, following in the footsteps of the Surakarta administration in Central Java, Jakarta strongly encouraged all residents to stay at home. On Monday, public transportation services were greatly reduced and only available on main routes. Passenger capacity in each bus or train car was also reduced. This was to ensure that passengers can keep a safe distance from one another in the hope of curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Considering the expanding outbreak, the Jakarta administration has implemented a social distancing policy for the past two weeks.

However, on Monday, it was not peace of mind that public transportation users got. Instead, they were trapped in chaotic confusion as long queues formed at Transjakarta bus stops and MRT stations. This was because only schools – public and private – were closed. Meanwhile, some companies, factories and offices were still open.

Residents relied on public transportation to get to their workplaces as not all of them owned or wanted to use their own vehicles. This is despite the government having suspended the odd-even traffic scheme and encouraged residents to use their personal vehicles, in the hope of promoting the social distancing policy. Subsequently, there were severe traffic jams during morning and afternoon rush hours on the capital’s major thoroughfares.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

Passengers queue at a Transjakarta bus stop in Puri Beta, Tangerang, Banten, on Monday (16/3/2020).

On Tuesday (17/3), in line with an order from Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan made in response to public pressure and a request from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, public transportation services went back to normal.

Meanwhile, factory workers in Bekasi regency grew increasingly worried. Activities in industrial centers have slowed down since the week before. Working hours at several factories have been cut. Production cycles are expected to dwindle in the next several months because of a policy to limit raw material imports from countries hardest hit by COVID-19, especially China.

Kompas reported on Monday that workers in Bekasi were worried that their salaries would be reduced because of COVID-19-related policies. This is despite their monthly expenses remaining the same, including for daily needs, children’s school fees and other expenses. Similar concerns have also emerged in other industrial cities, such as Tangerang and South Tangerang.

Another impact that has not been discussed properly is on informal workers who depend on the mobility of formal workers for their income. What will food stall owners and street food sellers near schools, offices and factories do when daily activities are reduced or suspended?

Furthermore, what will be the fate of ride-hailing service drivers who transport workers to their offices, bus stops or train stations, when everyone works from home? When office workers, with their permanent status, are legally guaranteed their full salaries while working from home, what about freelance and casual workers?

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Tourists take a picture on 29 Sept. 2019 at Merlion Park in Singapore. The city-state has been taking widespread measures since January 2020 to mobilize state institutions and the public to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

Singapore’s way

That Monday, President Jokowi gave an official statement at the Bogor Presidential Palace, seemingly after studying the latest developments in other countries concerning COVID-19 mitigation. The President reaffirmed that he was giving measured orders to curb the spread of C OVID-19 that would not worsen the economy, which would only make life more difficult for many.

“Therefore, all policies, be they from the central government or regional administrations, will be and must be analyzed thoroughly so that they can solve the problem effectively,” Jokowi said.

The President also stressed that all regional policies should be first discussed with the central government, through relevant state ministries and the COVID-19 task force. Such coordination is necessary to prevent any confusion in information dissemination and policymaking. It is also important to nurture social solidarity as social capital in ensuring that the people work together to fight the pandemic.

The government also guaranteed that residents were safe and could continue with their normal activities.

The President’s statement was widely appreciated as a single line of command was necessary in a situation like this, in order to manage all policies collectively in the central and regional governments. Next, concrete humanitarian efforts are needed. Integrated steps orientated toward short- and long-term results for the sake of people’s safety must be placed above everything else.

COVID-19 mitigation in major cities across Indonesia has grabbed people’s attention as the nation’s citizens are concentrated in its cities. Furthermore, cities also see huge interregional and international traffic of people every day. Consequently, the disease may spread more easily in cities.

At this point, we may emulate the ways of our neighboring country Singapore. In January, when the Covid-19 cases were not as explosive as they are today, the city-state had implemented anticipatory steps as the disease began to spread among its residents. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a public appearance and officially requested all residents to not panic as the government could manage the disease. The government also guaranteed that residents were safe and could continue with their normal activities.

REUTERS/EDGAR SU

Commuters take the Woodlands Causeway to Singapore from Johor a day before Malaysia imposes a lockdown on travel due to the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore (17/3/2020).

Lee asked his ministers to serve as coordinators in line with their offices, while the prime minister acted as commander. The health minister, for instance, was tasked with ensuring the preparedness of healthcare facilities and professionals down to the level of local health centers. Tests for anyone suspected to have the virus were carried out rapidly. Healthy lifestyle and proper hand-washing campaigns were launched and people were encouraged to make reports if they suspected their relatives or colleagues of having caught the disease.

Strict border restrictions were implemented at sea, air and land entry points. Public services were maintained at normal levels but forming crowds and close interactions were discouraged. The availability and affordability of staple needs were guaranteed.

All information related to COVID-19, including the latest number of people with COVID-19, distribution maps and mitigation efforts were devised and continuously updated. Whatever questions the public may have are answered clearly, using available data. This can be seen in reports from the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, available at the Foreign Ministry’s website, which is updated almost every day. Singapore is currently categorized as safe, without any reports of COVID-19 fatalities.

For Indonesia, it is never too late to learn from this and implement the same measures.

Singapore has established a clearly measurable system since the beginning to curb the spread of Covid-19. This is not a unilateral policy applied for certain areas only.

Some can say that, as Singapore is only roughly as big as Jakarta, it is easy to manage the disease there. This is not entirely correct. As a country that lives on its service industry, Singapore relies heavily on tourism, global conferences and trade. It is surely not easy to make decisions to mitigate COVID-19 and implement strict border restrictions while maintaining the nation’s economy.

Shutting down an entire city that never sleeps for 24 hours a day is never easy. Only firm leadership that prioritized humanity and with a perspective of sustainability can achieve it. For Indonesia, it is never too late to learn from this and implement the same measures.