Systemic Covid-19 Mitigation Prepared for Hardest-Hit Regions

Covid-19 mitigation is now focused on regions with the most significant spikes in new cases. At the same time, “new normal” protocols are being prepared.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Officers check the travel documents of one of 11 passengers who arrived at Gambir Station in Jakarta on Thursday (28/5/2020) aboard KLB (luxury train) 10477 from Pasar Turi Station, Surabaya. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has issued Gubernatorial Regulation No. 47/2020 requiring all travelers departing or entering Jakarta must possess the Exit-Entry Permit (SIKM), as part of the capital’s strategy to reduce Covid-19 transmission.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Several regions are still seeing significant spikes in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, leading the government to prepare systemic mitigation efforts focused on six provinces with the highest spikes.

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said in Jakarta on Thursday (28/5/2020) that Covid-19 spread in Jakarta was starting to be under control. Therefore, the government will shift its attention to other regions still seeing surges of cases.

“Today’s condition looks like a flash flood. At first, it was in the upstream, which is Jakarta. Now, it is in the downstream in other regions in Indonesia. This is because people’s mobility from Jakarta to spots all over Indonesia is high,” Muhadjir said.

Today’s condition looks like a flash flood.

He said the government acknowledged that its decision to implement large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) rather than regional quarantine had led to mass spread of the disease to numerous regions. The government has estimated that the entirety of Java will now be a new epicenter instead of just Jakarta.

The spread of new cases connected to a superspreader event in Gowa, South Sulawesi, exacerbates this.

Also read : Clear Criteria is Needed for the Easing

KOMPAS/STEFANUS ATO

Workers place tape on Thursday (28/5/2020) to mark the appropriate distance between worshipers at Al-Barkah Grand Mosque in Bekasi municipality, West Java. The mosque expects around 300 worshipers to attend the congregational Friday prayer.

Reflecting on the latest situation, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed all ministries and agencies to focus their mitigation efforts outside Jakarta, especially in six provinces, namely East Java, South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Papua and West Nusa Tenggara.

“The case is on the downstream. We will tackle the problem systemically. For instance, the [national Covid-19 mitigation] task force will give 25 percent of its attention to East Java. Furthermore, we will not underestimate other regions with low numbers of cases,” Muhadjir said.

Also read : PSBB Easing Merely a Plan

Meanwhile, several regions are planning to ease their PSBB policies. South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah said his province would be ready for PSBB easing. His administration has requested locals to adhere to health protocols. Makassar city and Gowa regency have PSBB policies in place.

The West Java provincial administration has prepared “new normal” protocols for crowded places, including markets, malls and workplaces. The protocols will be disseminated this week. The plan is based on the province’s Covid-19 reproduction number of 1.09, which means that one person with Covid-19 can infect one other person. “The new normal protocols will regulate [interactions] in markets, workplaces, malls and other crowded places,” West Java Covid-19 task force secretary Daud Achmad.

Also read : Don’t Be Lulled by the Easing of PSBB

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A security officer scans the body temperature of a visitor on Thursday (28/5/2020) at Summarecon Mal Bekasi in Bekasi municipality, West Java. The West Java Governor has stressed that the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) was still in effect, but had allowed shopping centers to open in line with President Joko Widodo\'s instructions to gradually restart the economy while minimizing the risk of Covid-19 infection.

Administrations in Greater Tangerang region are also preparing new normal protocols. Tangerang regent Ahmed Zaki Iskandar said that new normal protocols would be implemented in phases. The Tangerang regency administration is preparing a plan to reopen places of worship.

Standard operating procedures for tourism in line with Covid-19 health protocols are also being prepared. Reopening tourism will depend on the local Covid-19 reproduction number.

The National Police is also prioritizing persuasion in disciplining people to adhere to Covid-19 health protocols. The police said that it could impose criminal punishment for protocol violators. National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Ahmad Ramadhan said National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis had issued Police Telegram No. 249 dated 28 May 2020 on the implementation of new normal policies.

Too early

The government’s spokesperson on Covid-19-related matters, Achmad Yurianto, said the country saw 687 new confirmed cases on 28 May. East Java, South Kalimantan and Jakarta saw the highest spikes of new cases. This is in line with the increased number of samples tested daily, namely 11,495. In total, the country now has 23,851 confirmed cases and 1,473 deaths.

Yurianto said the government would prepare scenarios for people to return to their productive activities. This comprises not only economic activities but also learning activities at schools and prayers and places of worship.

Also read : The Peak of the Pandemic is Difficult to Determine

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A ride-hailing motorcycle taxi driver carries a food delivery order on Thursday (28/5/2020) past a shuttered Mothercare outlet at Summarecon Mal Bekasi in Bekasi municipality, West Java. The West Java Governor has stressed that the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) was still in effect, but had allowed shopping centers to open

However, epidemiologist and Indonesian Public Health Association (IAKMI) executive Syahrizal Syarif said the government’s plans to ease PSBB and start a new normal was too soon. This was because several fundamental prerequisites had not yet been fulfilled, especially regarding people’s discipline in curbing Covid-19 spread.

Easing of PSBB must be based on a significant decline of new cases daily. Currently, Indonesia is still seeing fluctuations in daily new cases. “If not done properly, PSBB easing will only lead to more infections,” Syahrizal said.

The government must study carefully regarding the implementation of a new normal

The World Health Organization established six prerequisites for a region to implement the new normal. This includes ability to curb Covid-19 transmission and adequate capacity of healthcare facilities to detect, trace and isolate cases.

“The government must study carefully regarding the implementation of a new normal so that no more people fall victim [to the disease],” Muslim mass organization Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir said in a written statement.

Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) deputy chair M. Adib Khumaidi said he hoped PSBB easing would not be done in a hurry. “Preparedness of infrastructure, human resources and isolation wards must be mapped out so that we will be ready for surges of new cases,” he said.

(TAN/AIK/REN/NCA/IGA/NSA/TAM/HLN/INA/NAD)