Effective Communication Promotes Public Confidence
The government’s effort to control the COVID-19 pandemic will not be fruitful without the support and positive response of society.
COVID-19 rapid response task force chairman Doni Monardo (second right) poses with Donny Eryastha (left), head of public policy of Tiktok Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines in Jakarta on Thursday (9/4/2020). On the occasion, Tiktok donated Rp 100 billion.
The government’s effort to control the COVID-19 pandemic will not be fruitful without the support and positive response of society. Effective communication is the key to building confidence and discipline among residents to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Based on data from the COVID-19 Rapid Response Task Force, entering the third month the increase in the number of confirmed cases has remained quite high.
The trend indicates that in early May new confirmed cases have listed around 300-400 daily. The total number of patients that have tested positive has thus reached more than 10,000. The challenge being faced in the prevention of contagion is getting tougher. The momentum of Ramadan and Idul Fitri will make the policy of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) so liable to violations.
When it is time to break-the-fast, for instance, security officers have to disperse crowds of people disregarding the PSBB. This is not to mention residents who still insist on worshipping in congregations.
Read also: Compiling Data, Cutting COVID-19 Spread
Residents’ disrespect for the rule is due to a lack of confidence in the government’s COVID-19 management endeavors. So far there have been no new developments that can promote optimism about the epidemic control.
Parallel to this, the deprivation of public confidence in the government is also reflected in results of a Kompas Research and Development public opinion poll. Sixty-six percent of respondents stated that the government’s action and anticipation in dealing with COVID-19 were not yet effective.
From the time before epidemic expansion to its initial control, various controversies arose. Regarding the obligation to wear face masks, the comments made by some elite figures deeming it no serious matter and the poor synergy between government agencies made COVID-19 control even more difficult.
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People not wearing face masks are told to do squat jumps during a public order raid near Jl Merdeka, Bogor municipality, West Java, on Friday (1/5/2020). The raid was conducted by the COVID-19 rapid response task force and public order police to enforce large-scale social restrictions.
To date, the government’s inconsistency in implementing its rule has continued. Not long ago, amid the PSBB imposition and closure of flight access, the government granted permits to foreign workers to enter the region of Southeast Sulawesi.
The other thing that also gives no less excuse for indiscipline is the permission allowed to exodus travelers on certain conditions and for urgent needs.
The success of these nations is of course inseparable from the lockdown strategy that has been carried out with utmost discipline.
As some other countries have shown, this quarter should demonstrate success in controlling the pandemic. Vietnam, Singapore and New Zealand have officially declared victory over COVID-19. The success of these nations is of course inseparable from the lockdown strategy that has been carried out with utmost discipline.
One of the methods to build such discipline is to conduct effective communication. Good communication by the government will induce public confidence in the COVID-19 management effort.
Read also: Data Accuracy Helps Handle the COVID-19 Epidemic
Communication
Researchers Barbara R. and Matthew W. have published their research results in the Journal of Health Communication related to crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC). There are five phases of communication to be undertaken by the government in handling a crisis period.
The communication phases of the crisis period consist of pre-crisis, initial event, maintenance, resolution and evaluation phases.
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Three Covid-19 patients who have recovered, namely Cases 1, 2, and 3, were discharged from RSPI Sulianti Saroso, Jakarta, on Monday (16/3/2020). According to them, people do not need to panic facing Covid-19 because the disease can be overcome by increasing endurance and a healthy lifestyle.
In the pre-crisis phase, what the government should undertake in its response to the pandemic period includes monitoring, public education and conveyance of specific information. In the early appearance of COVID-19 cases, many circles described the government as less responsive in providing information.
The fact has led to many different views between elite figures, even between regional administrations, on the COVID-19 pandemic management.
Besides, very minimum public education in the initial pandemic period was conducted, Other matters like study compilation and experts’ recommendations were not optimally done. The fact has led to many different views between elite figures, even between regional administrations, on the COVID-19 pandemic management.
In the second phase of the crisis, the number of cases increased significantly and spread to many regions. In this condition, the government’s communication strategy should have been able to ease panic, name an official spokesman and make an anticipation design so as to form a data and information center.
In this phase the government in fact already appointed an official spokesman. Through the COVID-19 Rapid Response Task Force, information and data on epidemic developments were renewed on a daily basis.
However, the problem just arose with the inconsistency of data obtained by central and regional governments. In Jakarta, for example, data on COVID-19 patient developments acquired by the provincial government differed from those of the task force. The situation certainty caused public confusion in determining which data source was to be trusted.
Read also: Inaccurate Data Is the Source of the Problem
Maintenance phase
Viewed from the pattern of epidemic distribution, the communication to be conducted by the government now enters the maintenance phase. In this phase, the challenge to be faced will be heavier and the government needs to improve its pandemic crisis communication.
The communication strategy to be executed in this crisis condition covers risk education and giving understanding of the background of the emergency state as well as correcting hoaxes now circulating. In addition, communication for synergy in the recovery effort as well as optimization of the data and communication center are also badly needed.
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Neon box billboards show cartoons of President Joko Widodo\'s appeal not to go home in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport, East Jakarta, on Saturday (25/4/2020). A number of airlines operating at the airport no longer serve passenger flights, but only cargo cargo services.
Later, crisis communication in the COVID-19 pandemic period will enter the phases of resolution and evaluation. In these last two phases, the communication patterns adopted should cover information on recovery effort and developments, public education to follow recovery procedures and campaigns on positive matters.
The government’s communication in this crisis period is highly important. Through an educative communication pattern, public confidence can grow. In this manner, residents will consciously comply with the policy implemented by the government to overcome COVID-19.
(KOMPAS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DIVISION)
