The government has announced that two Indonesians from Depok, West Java, tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). The government needs to spread calm among its citizens.
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On Monday (2/3/2020) at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced two Indonesians had been infected with Covid-19 after close contact with the Japanese national who was diagnosed with the disease in Malaysia after traveling to Indonesia.
The President’s announcement, accompanied by Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, dispelled suspicions among the international community that Indonesia was concealing its cases of Covid-19 infection.
Following the announcement, the government’s primary challenge is to calm the public. Panic is already evident from the increasing demand for face masks and hand sanitizers. The residents of several places are reportedly raiding supermarkets to stock up on staple goods.
The Health Minister\'s approach in explaining and answering all questions from the media indicate the full disclosure of information. The steps being taken to trace the patients\' contacts are also expected to help calm the public.
It would be very good if the government could explain its reasons for isolating only the residences of the two patients and not isolating Depok municipality as a whole to contain the virus.
The President has stressed the government\'s preparedness, saying that it had readied 100 referral hospitals across Indonesia, equipped with isolation facilities and international-standard equipment. Infection control was also of an international standard and inter-agency cooperation was in place. Funding had also been provided.
Statistically, the number of global fatalities from Covid-19 is around 2 percent of total cases. However, person-to-person transmission is relatively easy and has already crossed national borders, causing fear and panic around the world.
Only by working together can we escape the negative effects of Covid-19 on various aspects of our lives.
Under such conditions, the government, the business world, and the public must work together to raise optimism while maintaining caution. We hope that the legislature will help the government prevent the negative impacts on the public. The regional heads must move immediately to explain how to prevent transmission and containing the spread of Covid-19 in their areas. Communities can contribute by helping to share accurate information.
Only by working together can we escape the negative effects of Covid-19 on various aspects of our lives. Good collective management will maintain confidence among businesses and investors, which will in turn strengthen the Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) to encourage foreign tourists to return and improve the economy.
In the future, we want Indonesia to not just detect cases of infection at home, but also work together with the global community in preventing the spread of Covid-19 and pursue research to develop a homegrown cure.