Raising Public Awareness on the Risks of Covid-19

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

People flock to the sidewalk of Jatinegara Animal Market, East Jakarta, Sunday (7/7/2020). The transitional large-scale social limitation (PSBB) period as an effort to prevent Covid-19 transmission is still valid in Jakarta until 16 July. However, community activities, especially in traditional markets, are not fully complying with a number of health protocols.

Efforts to spread information regarding the risks of Covid-19 have been considered to lack effectiveness. As the result, public awareness over the risks of the new coronavirus remains low.

Many people are still reluctant to follow the Covid-19 health protocols due to a lack of understanding about the risks associated with the disease. For this reason, the dissemination of information on the risks of Covid-19 transmission provided by the government and other stakeholders should be improved so that mitigation efforts in handling the disease can be implemented more effectively.

Social psychologist at the University of Indonesia, Bagus Takwin, said that the communication method used by the government in raising public awareness over the risks of Covid-19 have been lackluster. The transmission of the new coronavirus, which causes Covid-19, is an unusual phenomenon, but the government sees it as business as usual, he said.

The Covid-19 pandemic is not yet over as the number of new cases continues to increase.

"The communication method used by the government in informing people of the risks of Covid-19 should be improved. The information must bring optimism but must remain realistic. The Covid-19 pandemic is not yet over as the number of new cases continues to increase. Prevention efforts have not been carried out consistently," he said in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said the government needed to provide optimistic views that the Covid-19 pandemic could be overcome. However, if such information did not reflect the real condition, people would not be aware of the risks of the disease. As a result, many people ignored the importance of the health protocols, causing the virus transmission to become more widespread.

Epidemiologist from the School of Public Health at the University of Indonesia, Iwan Ariawan, said that the relaxation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in a number of regions could trigger an increase in new Covid-19 cases. Epidemiologically, the transmission of the disease has not significantly declined as contact tracing has not been optimal, while the capacity of health facilities in a number of regions is inadequate, he said.

It means that the green zone status cannot guarantee that an area has low transmission risks.

In addition, the zoning system in classifying the risks of Covid-19 transmission in each region should be properly implemented because there is no clear borderline between one to another area. As people were allowed to freely move from one area to another without any restrictions, the classification of the risks will not be effective. It means that the green zone status cannot guarantee that an area has low transmission risks.

Different backgrounds

Sociologist Imam B Prasodjo said, the community needed to be given comprehensive information related to the transmission of Covid-19. With the diversity of people\'s backgrounds in Indonesia, the government should be able to to promote awareness of the risks of the disease in different ways.

Kompas/AGUS SUSANTO

An officer cleans the shield that surrounds a table at Victory Plus School, Bekasi city, West Java, Wednesday (8/7/2020). The face-to-face learning activities at this school are planned to begin on 13 July, 2020. Victory Plus School is one of the first four face-to-face pilot schools in Bekasi city because it is judged to be ready and feasible to implement the Covid-19 health protocols.

Some people can accept and understand the explanations conveyed through television. However, some other face difficulties in receiving the one-way explanation, such as that conveyed through the television. The involvement of community leaders, such as religious leaders, cultural figures, artists and regional leaders should be further increased in disseminating information about the risks of Covid-19 to the public.

"The risks of the Covid-19 transmission must be well informed so that the public is aware that prevention efforts are needed. Don\'t wear a mask and keep a physical distance out of fears. The fear can instead cause panic," said Imam.

Meanwhile, the dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Indonesia, Ari Fahrial Syam said, law enforcement also needed to be improved to increase awareness about the serious risks that come with Covid-19 transmission.

If there is a rapid increase in new cases, the hospital will not be ready to accommodate all the patients infected by the disease.

People’s reluctance in following health protocols can lead to an increase in new Covid-19 cases. If there is a rapid increase in new cases, the hospital will not be ready to accommodate all the patients infected by the disease.

According to health economics observer from the University of Indonesia\'s School of Economics and Business, Teguh Dartanto, the government also needs to inform the public that health and economic fields should receive similar attention. According to him, both have received different treatment. He said the government’s policies in recovering the economy had been poorly implemented.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Bicycle rental service for visitors to the Bogor Botanical Gardens, Bogor, as seen on Tuesday (7/7/2020). The Bogor Botanical Gardens reopened to the public on that day after being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an increase in poverty and social inequality. The regional governments are expected to play an active role in saving the lives of its citizens and at the same time to restore the economy," he said.