Ahead of New Order, We Need New Legal Umbrella and Socialization

Kompas/AGUS SUSANTO

A dark cloud covers the Jakarta sky on Sunday (31/5/2020) during the transition to the dry season. The Jakarta administration is evaluating the efficacy of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) before transitioning to the “new normal”.

Ahead of the “new order” or “new normal”, the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) said it needed a new regulation governing the new order and its familiarization to people. The regulation will cover the rules in different aspects, such as office activities or economic activities, as well as public transportation to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Mujiyono, chairperson of Commission A at the Jakarta Legislative Council in charge of city governance, on Monday (1/6/2020) said before Jakarta eased large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) and heads for the new normal, the Jakarta provincial administration should formulate policies by considering and referring to the World Health Organization (WHO) requirements.

Among the WHO requirements are, first, that the effective reproduction rate (Rt) is less than 1 (Rt <1). It means there should be zero transmission of COVID-19 from an infected person to another person. This figure is an epidemic control measure recommended by WHO and is an absolute requirement before the enforcement of a new normal. An epidemic is considered to be under control if the Rt is less than 1 for two weeks.

The indicator for surveillance is a sufficient laboratory test capacity and a clear test strategy.

The second requirement, Mujiyono said, is the availability of a public health system that can meet the needs of the people. Among them is the availability of medical equipment and in-patient rooms for the treatment of people positive for Covid-19.

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

Then, the third requirement is regarding surveillance. According to WHO, surveillance is the process of collecting, processing, analyzing and data interpretation systemically and dissemination of information to units that need to be able to retrieve action.

"The indicator for surveillance is a sufficient laboratory test capacity and a clear test strategy. The expected number of tests is 3,550 tests per 1 million of population," said Mujiyono, a member of the Democratic Party faction.

If the three requirements can be met and the Rt level in Jakarta really stands at less than 1, the easing of social restrictions can be done but with sticking to the Covid-19 protocol strictly. Among these health protocols is the obligation to wear a face mask, washing hands frequently and maintaining a safe distance.

Also read : PSBB Easing Merely a Plan

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Clothing traders at Binaan Warga Market in Jatibaru, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, await buyers on Monday, (1/6/2020) They have kept their shops open during large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) because of economic need.

Gilbert Simanjuntak, a member of Commission B in charge of economic issues at the Jakarta Legislative Council, separately said that to end social restrictions (PSBB), the Jakarta provincial administration should refer to existing data, not simply by following a predetermined date/schedule. We recommend a periodic evaluation between phases, at least using data every two weeks.

Some countries that have eased the lockdowns, Simanjuntak said, had conducted a periodic evaluation every two weeks or every four weeks.

"It is recommended to look into existing data that people from the middle and upper classes, those more than 50 years old, male and have particular illness, such as hypertension, have a risk factor," said Simanjuntak from the PDI-P faction.

Also read : Weighing the “New Normal”

Mujiyono added in order for us to live in a new normal, there really needs to be new regulations governing how the new order will take place.

He gave an example about the management of the public transportation sector that will provide transportation services to support people’s activities. Regarding public transportation, Mujiyono said, it would be difficult to maintain physical distance in line with health protocols when office and economic activities return to normal. Public transportation operators may have imposed restrictions and limit the number of passengers but the concern is the possibility of the buildup of passengers.

To live in a new normal, there really needs to be new regulations governing how the new order will take place.

So, what needs to be done by the Jakarta provincial administration from now on, he said, was taking anticipatory measures. The Jakarta provincial administration can issue regulations on the operational hours of offices or other sectors, for example, making them going to the workplace in rotations (in turn).

"Or, the Jakarta provincial administration can map out office locations to set office hour rules. For example, offices located in South Jakarta should start work at 7 a.m. Then, offices in Central Jakarta and West Jakarta start work at 9 a.m., followed by other cities. This will reduce the rush hours. Most importantly, the eight-hour working day can adjusted," he said.

These kind of rules will have an impact on the use of public transportation so that the public transportation operators can draw up scenarios for their services.

Also read : Enforcing New Normal

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Vehicles manage to evade traffic controls near the Gunung Mas Tea Plantation, Puncak, Bogor regency, West Java, on Monday (1/6/2020).

Sarman Simanjorang, chairperson of the Indonesian Native Entrepreneurs Association who is also the deputy chairperson of the Jakarta Chamber of Commerce, said one of the stipulations in the Health Ministerial Regulation (Permenkes) for the new normal was work arrangements, including in the aspect of working duration, age and overtime.

"In principle, the business community will implement the Permenkes as much as possible. We will adjust to the conditions, needs and characteristics of our business," he said.

The government policy to start easing the social restrictions means that the operational activities of the business sector are certainly not 100 percent yet. So it should be easy to adopt flexible working hours. Moreover, given the dispensation for employees aged over 45 years old to work from home, of course it\'s easier to arrange the new work schedules.

"Moreover, [the number of] consumers and customers will not return to normal 100 percent yet. So offices or business entities will not need manpower in full team to provide the services. Hopefully, employees will not go to their offices in the morning at the same time in order not to cause buildup of passengers on public transportation, which will potentially spread the new coronavirus that causes Covid-19," Simanjorang said.

Simanjuntak added another thing the Jakarta provincial administration needs to do is, of course, socialization. This socialization means that during the preparation for the easing of social restrictions and during the upcoming new normal, people need to apply health protocols, such as wearing masks, washing hands and keeping a physical distance to prevent Covid-19 transmission.

"All of this information must be disseminated through the neighborhood unit [RT] and community unit [RW]," said Simanjuntak.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Motorists pass the empty Manggarai Station in South Jakarta on Saturday (18/4/2020). The central government has continued to allow commuter trains to operate under large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek).

Avoid talking

Separately, one health protocol that is being stressed is that public transportation passengers should avoid talking, both directly to each other or by using a cell phone. Because, Covid-19 transmission could happen through droplets or fluid coming out of the mouth and nose when coughing, sneezing or talking.

Erni Sylviane Purba, vice president of corporate communication with PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI), said KCI continues to socialize that information through KCI\'s loudspeakers and through social media. "We must maintain our discipline with or without the presence of officers," she said.

M. Effendi, director of operation and maintenance for PT MRT Jakarta, said the company’s management has also issued recommendations regarding talking or using cell phones while in a train car. The management has encouraged passengers not to talk to each other, both directly and using mobile phones.

Djoko Setijowarno, chairman of advocacy and community affairs with the Indonesian Transportation Society, said in order to make the appeal and recommendations well implemented it needs an enhancement in supervision and socialization.