Focus on Covid-19

Kompas

Medical workers at the Duren Sawit Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in East Jakarta, take photos together after administering rapid and swab tests on sellers at Perumnas Klender Market on Friday (29/5/2020). More than 50 sellers underwent testing. Similar tests conducted last week found 50 sellers had COVID-19. The Indonesian Market Sellers Association recorded that 233 sellers had tested positive for COVID-19 nationally, of which 19 died.

The easing of economic activities has started. However, the government and the public must not ignore the risk of Covid-19.

Covid-19 transmission is still a global threat, including in Indonesia. World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that more than 7.2 million people had been infected with Covid-19 and more than 400,000 people had died from the disease. Although the condition in each country is different, some are now on an improving trend. Globally, however, the WHO Director General said that conditions are still worsening!

Also read : Obey Health Protocols

The condition in Indonesia varies. On Tuesday, 9 June 2020, an additional 1,043 new people tested positive for Covid-19 nationwide, the highest number of new cases in a single day. This included an additional 232 new cases in Jakarta, also the highest in a single day. This brings the cumulative total to 33,076 confirmed cases, of which 19,246 are under treatment, 11,414 have recovered and 1,923 have died.

Indonesia made a risky political decision by relaxing the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in the midst of an epidemic, whatever the terms or phrases that are being used. Some say it is a "transition period" while others call it a "new normal". The phrase "new normal" that the government has introduced is open to misinterpretation. The public can misread it to mean that conditions are completely back to normal. In actual fact, the risk of Covid-19 transmission is still real. The national transmission curve has not been flattened yet.

Read also: Preventing a Bigger Outbreak in Regions

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Long lines of KRL commuter train passengers are seen at Bogor Station, Bogor city, West Java, Monday (8/6/2020). A number of workers and economic actors from the Greater Bogor region began to leave for Jakarta because a number of offices and economic activities began to open during the Transitional Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) in Jakarta. Due to the limited number of the trains due to the imposition of a limited number of means of transportation results in the long lines with close distances among people at a number of stations through which the trains pass. The line at Bogor Station itself was seen from 5 a.m. until 9 a.m.

Following the relaxation of the PSBB is a political agenda, namely the regional head elections in December 2020. The possibility of holding the regional elections has its pros and cons. Aside from having no experience in holding a regional election (Pilkada) during a pandemic, the Pilkada will also require increasing the budget. The results of a Kompas Research and Development online survey on 24-25 May 2020 showed that 91.8 respondents agreed with postponing the elections to 2021, 2.5 percent disagreed and 5.7 percent had no idea.

The government must be wise in tapping into the public’s aspirations regarding the elections. Admittedly, managing the Covid-19 epidemic has met with many obstacles because of the rivalry among the political elite. The 2020 Pilkada is another factor in the internal competition among the elite. The incumbent can use the Covid-19 pandemic for his electoral interests.

Also read : Preventing a Bigger Outbreak in Regions

We do not want the Pilkada to be held simply because it is part of the constitutional agenda or as a compromise for the political elite. In addition, its implementation now will not uphold public health or the principles of a healthy democracy. Democratic health is determined by the political participation of voters who come to the ballot box in 270 regions. Forcing an election during the epidemic, aside from posing grave risks to public health, is also unhealthy for democracy, because incumbents can use the health crisis to boost their electability.

It would be wise for the government and the General Elections Commission (KPU) to understand the Covid-19 trends and public aspirations. It must be acknowledged that the situation in a number of cities has not resumed normalcy. National and regional political contests for governors, regents and mayors should be set aside for now. Please, focus on the people’s health security amid the Covid-19 epidemic. Postponing the elections until the situation is under control would be wiser than holding an election of low quality – unless the KPU and the regions are ready to implement “electronic voting” for the 2020 Pilkada.