Hiding Inside When Coronavirus Comes Knocking

Let’s comply with the health protocols. Don’t wait until Covid-19 arrives at our doorstep and forces us to hide in isolation.

KOMPAS/STEFANUS ATO

Children play in community units (RW) 006 and 014 in Grogol Utara subdistrict, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Sunday (7/7/2020). Access to these two areas was closed after 16 residents tested positive for COVID-19.

Everyone has a personal experience in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the globe. Those who believe in and are well aware of the threat this disease poses are more introspective and vigilant. Skeptics may only look at the virus as a conspiracy or propaganda perpetuated by a certain group.

It is indeed difficult to make people understand and take caution against the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, the virus is like a supernatural creature – a kuntilanak (female spirit, similar to La Llorona) or a ghost – who is known around the world, but not everyone has encountered or seen directly. Must the virus arrive at our houses before we can believe it and so become vigilant?

The data shows that the threat of the pandemic is real and tangible. According to the data from Covid19.go.id, Covid-19 cases have been reported in 216 countries as of Wednesday afternoon (8/7/2020), with 11,591,595 confirmed cases and 537,859 deaths from the disease. In Indonesia, 68,079 confirmed cases and 3,359 deaths have been reported.

Also read : Togetherness in the Face of Covid-19

These millions of people with the disease and the hundreds of thousands who have died from it have still not opened the eyes of all to the dangers of the pandemic. Even in Jakarta, the results of the Jakarta Covid-19 Risk Perception Survey, conducted by the Social Resilience Lab of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University with Laporcovid-19.org, show that 77 percent of respondents were convinced that they have a very slim probability of being infected by Covid-19, while 76 percent of respondents were similarly convinced of the minimal risk of transmission for those closest to them. In addition, 70 percent of respondents were certain that there was minimal risk of transmission in their households (Kompas, 5/7/2020).

At any time, we come across dozens of members of the public expressing disbelief in the pandemic, especially when overhearing conversations in coffee shops or other hangouts. A variety of questions, derisive comments and innuendos are exchanged among the participants of these discussions on Covid-19.

“Come on, sit down, have some coffee. You don’t need to pretend to follow the distancing [rules]. Take off your masks so we can chat freely,” a middle-aged man said to his relatives at the end of June at a coffee shop in Pluit, North Jakarta.

Also read : Solidarity Keeps Thriving

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

Transition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variant that is spreading throughout the world.

The 45-year-old man’s relatives readily did as he asked. The man then said it was impossible for the novel coronavirus to infect people who were healthy. For him, the new coronavirus was just propaganda from a certain group that was devised so their new business in the health sector could reap maximum profits.

“If this was such a dangerous disease, we should [be given] equal opportunity to get free tests. I arrived here [Jakarta] from my village yesterday. I was required to get a rapid test for Rp 250,000. For a family of two to three people, it costs more than the airfare. It’s like a new business,” said the man from East Nusa Tenggara.

The man’s complaint is reasonable and has attracted the attention of the Indonesia Ombudsman. Many people have complained about the high cost of getting a rapid test, which is required before they are permitted to traveling by plane or train. The rates also vary from Rp 95,000 to Rp 1 million. As a matter of fact, however, the rapid test kits cost between Rp 60,000 and Rp 400,000 each.

Also read: How Neighbors Can Help Each Other amid Outbreak

“The costs of the tests are unreasonable. Furthermore, many rapid tests are now being offered as a potential business,” said Alvin Lie of the Indonesia Ombudsman (Kompas, 7/7/2020).

This business potential is indicated by those rapid testing programs that do not meet the established testing procedures and standards. For example, the workers extracting the samples wear only face masks and gloves, not the entire set of standardized PPE.

Also read : Solidarity Strengthens amid Pandemic

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Residents buy ornamental fish at the Jatinegara Animal Market in East Jakarta on Sunday (7/7/2020). The transitional period from large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) to the so called new normal in Jakarta will be in place until July 16.

Infected neighborhoods

The ridicule, innuendo and skepticism that are prevalent among some members of the public may disappear once the virus arrives on their doorstep. This is what happened to the residents of the densely populated community units (RW) of RW 006 and RW 014 in North Gorogol, South Jakarta.

Long before the transition to the “new normal” phase, while the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) was still imposed in Jakarta, the crowded neighborhoods were bustling with activity. Its narrow alleyways were packed with residents engaged in various activities as they joked and laughed together. They wore no masks; they did not physical distance. The daily television coverage on the Covid-19 pandemic that continued to claim lives and sweep through the country failed to prevent them from gathering together and enjoying each other’s company until late into the night.

But this behavior began to change on Saturday (4/7/2020), after they received news that more than a dozen people in the areas had tested positive for Covid-19. It was then that the residents went inside their houses to self-isolate. The hangouts frequented by the neighborhood youths became deserted.

Also read : The Power of Solidarity

By the afternoon of the following day, only young children cycling or playing football were seen in the alleys. The children were repeatedly told to wear their face masks while playing. The residents who sat on their terraces to enjoy the afternoon were also seen wearing masks.

The area imposed quarantine for 14 days. People were banned from entering or leaving the area, excepting residents. Their awareness about following the health protocols grew.

Each gate of each alley was manned by local youths who had previously spent their days chatting and joking late into the night. Every resident had to stop at a checkpoint so their cars could be disinfected before they were allowed entry.

KOMPAS/STEFANUS ATO

Access points to community units (RW) 006 and 014 of Grogol Utara subdistrict in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, are closed as seen on July 5 (5/7/2020). The two areas were closed after 16 residents in tested positive for COVID-19.

Their vigilance started only when cases of community infection started rising. By Wednesday (8/7/2020), the two RWs had recorded 36 confirmed cases of Covid-19among their residents.

The residents became even more worried. Everyone then started trying to protect their family members, minimize their interaction with neighbors and avoid going outdoors unless there was an urgent need.

“It’s getting scarier, we have to stay in hiding. There was another confirmed case in [the house] front, that’s quite close,” said resident Empung, 48, on his terrace on Tuesday afternoon.

It’s getting scarier, we have to stay in hiding.

North Grogol subdistrict head Sariman said that RW 006 and RW 014 were green zones throughout the PSBB until the end of June. The first confirmed cases of Covid-19 emerged only on 3 July and were traced back to the cluster at Palmerah Market.

Palmerah Market was closed for three days from 25 June to 27 June after nine traders tested positive for Covid-19. After the market was closed, the chain of transmission extended outward from the market to dense settlements, especially in North Grogol.

“Until today, the two RWs have totaled 36 confirmed cases. More specifically, 24 cases are being treated at the Athletes Village [emergency hospital] and the other 12 are recovering,” said Sariman.

KOMPAS/STEFANUS ATO

Access points to community units (RW) 006 and 014 of Grogol Utara subdistrict in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, are closed as seen on July 5 (5/7/2020). The two areas were closed after 16 residents in tested positive for COVID-19.

The residents were asked not to panic and to adhere to the health protocols through frequent hand washing, wearing masks and physical distancing where possible.

The rather high rate of community infection in the area is inseparable from the residents’ earlier inattentiveness and negligence when Jakarta started easing the PSBB.

“We called on the support of all residents [and told them] not to worry, let’s follow the health protocols, [and] our settlement will soon be ‘green’ again. The residents of the two RWs should not panic, [and] when Covid-19 is over, we’ll go for a picnic,” Sariman said.

The rapid spread of the disease, which infected dozens of people in North Grogol in less than a week, carries an important message on the the threat of the pandemic: Covid-19 may come knocking on your door if you aren’t vigilant.