People’s Discipline Crucial to End the Pandemic

Kompas/AGUS SUSANTO

An aerial photo of light traffic on Jl. Sudirman and the Kampung Melayu-Tanah Abang overpass in South Jakarta, Sunday (22/3/2020). Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan applied an emergency status in Jakarta in response to the COVID-19 pandemic disaster for the 14 next days and could be extended according to conditions in the future. Businesses and offices in Jakarta have also been called on to enforce a work from home policy starting Monday (23/3/2020).

People\'s awareness in implementing social distancing is crucial in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The National Police will use their discretion to disperse crowds.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — People’s discipline in implementing social distancing will be crucial in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Discipline is also a form of community solidarity with fellow citizens or medical personnel who are struggling to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

Since President Joko Widodo announced two positive cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia on March 4, the COVID-19 case has continued to increase. On Sunday (22/3/2020) there were 514 positive cases of COVID-19. A total of 48 patients died, while 29 people had recovered.

Yesterday, the COVID-19 rapid-response task force chairman Doni Monardo said in Jakarta that President Jokowi would not impose a lockdown or territorial quarantine, but social distancing. According to him, what is needed now is collective awareness that COVID-19 is dangerous and that its transmission is easy and fast.

"Let\'s be disciplined together by keeping distance between people, not making crowds or organizing meetings with large numbers of people. Only with national discipline makes us safe," Doni said.

The President\'s instruction regarding social distancing, according to Doni, must be translated by the heads of the regions. So far, the social distancing that has been imposed by the regional administration is suspending school and university activities, calling on people not to perform worship activities in groups, calling for work from home and temporarily closing entertainment venues, such as movie theaters and amusement parks.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

A sticker marking the rule of maintaining distance or social distancing of as far as 1 meter has been installed at the payment line at a Hypermart retail store, Kembangan, West Jakarta, Thursday (19/3/2020). Hypermart management is applying the rule to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

In a number of countries, social distancing becomes a step to curb the

spread of COVID-19. In Thailand, Sunday, it was reported that there were 188 new cases, bringing the total to 600 cases. From a number of new cases, Thai people got the virus at boxing stadiums and entertainment venues. This is the results of indiscipline in implementing social distancing.

On social media, there are calls for social solidarity, one of which is through self-limitation. On Twitter there is a call from health workers, among other things, "We keep working for you, please you stay at home for us."

Limitations

Home Minister Tito Karnavian has asked the regional administration to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by banning events including social and religious gatherings as well as activities that involve large numbers of people. "The home minister will this Monday talk with the governors through teleconference to monitor the steps of the regional heads," said the minister’s special staff Kastorius Sinaga.

The Regional Autonomy Implementation Monitoring Committee executive director Robert Endi Jaweng said that the regional administration needs to apply discretion to ensure that its citizens comply with social distancing. Local administrations need to fine office heads who have not yet implemented the “work from home” policy. Other discretions that can be applied by the local administrations, among others, are limiting offices’ operational hours and limiting public arenas.

The National Police chief has issued an instruction No. Mak/2/2020 concerning the Compliance with the Government Policies and Mitigation of the Coronavirus.

The residents were told to dissolve and to obey the COVID-19 mitigation protocol.

According to the head of the National Police\'s Security Unit, Comr. Gen. Agus Andrianto, the police have a discretion to disperse any mass events mentioned in the the National Police chief instruction. The police members began reminding residents not to gather in public. The residents were told to dissolve and to obey the COVID-19 mitigation protocol.

Meanwhile, deputy chairperson of the Indonesian Ulema Council, Zainut Tauhid Saadi, asked ulema and other religious leaders to support the government\'s move to overcome the coronavirus outbreak.

Safety of medical workers

Late detection and lack of preparation, including limited protective gears, made the health workers fall victims of COVID-19. "The death of doctors, some specialist doctors, is a big blow. On the one hand, we know this is our duty in the forefront. But please provide us with protective gear. There\'s no way we can deal with this coronavirus only with a rain coat," said Tri Maharani, an emergency specialist, who is also an executive member with the Indonesian Emergency Specialists Association.

Nurses also become victims because of late detection. According to the chairperson of the Indonesian National Nurses Association, Harif Fadhillah, six doctors and one nurse died as a result of COVID-19, both due to direct infection and other causes related to the pandemic. There are also dozens of other medical personnel who are positive and are under monitoring.

To accelerate the handling of COVID-19, President Jokowi issued Presidential Decree No. 9/2020 concerning the COVID-19 rapid-response task force.

To accelerate the handling of COVID-19, President Jokowi issued Presidential Decree No. 9/2020 concerning the COVID-19 rapid-response task force. The decree which revised the earlier Presidential Decree No. 7/2020, among others, expands the structure of the task force, sets a more detailed funding and facilitates to accelerate the import of equipment for handling COVID-19.

The Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying 12 tons of health logistics from Pudong Airport, Shanghai, China, has landed in the country, precisely on Natuna Island, on Sunday morning (22/3). According to the plan, the logistics will be handed over to the rapid-response task force at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, Monday (23/3). (NMP/REK/DEA/AIK/NTA/ IDO/RTG/TAN/HAR/LUK/LOK)