2021 Challenge: Adapting and Collaborating or Defeated by the Pandemic

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Residents walk in the shops of Jalan Pancoran, Glodok, West Jakarta, Saturday (24/10/2020). Residents began to appear more flexible with their activities outside the home during the phase two of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) which will end on Sunday (25/10/2020).

The year 2020 saw the lives of 7.83 billion people turned upside down by the Covid-19 pandemic. Like a game, we are fighting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If you win, the game will continue and if you lose it will be over.

The competition of two organisms reminds us of Charles Darwin\'s theory of evolution through natural selection, published 161 years ago. It’s not the strongest or the smartest species that survive but those that can adapt to change.

Also read: Back to COVID-19

The United States as a superpower is not yet able to control the virus. As of 13 Dec. 2020, 16.55 million Americans have been infected with Covid-19 and 305,088 of them have died. Based on Worldmeter data, the total deaths in the US are the highest among 220 countries.

In Indonesia, SAR-CoV-2 has infected 617,820 people and killed 18,819 residents. The number is rising and there is no sign of subsiding, yet.

Also read: Increase Target of the Government Vaccination Program

The Covid-19 pandemic has also paralyzed the global economy. The secretary-general of the United Nations Trade and Development Conference (UNCTAD), Mukhisa Kituyi, said the Covid-19 pandemic had gravely wounded the world economy with serious consequences impacting all communities and individuals. The latest UN report show about 32 million people in poor countries will fall into extreme poverty.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

The teacher explains the health protocols to students in face-to-face learning activities at SMP Negeri 2 Klaten, Klaten, Central Java, Friday (9/10/2020).

SARS-CoV-2 also affects the basis of the socio-cultural life. Humans as homo socius, homo faber and homo ludens are suddenly unable to interact, work and play. Even a handshake can carry a risk. Hugs and handshakes to share happiness to celebrate important events such as births, birthdays and weddings, also pose risks. And the tradition of delivering bodies to burials as the last respects cannot be carried out for those who died from Covid-19.

It is not impossible that the prolonged pandemic may lead to a socio-political crisis. As the health, economic and political crises converge, the victory of SARS-CoV-2 becomes even more real.

Hope in 2021

No one dares to predict when the pandemic will end. However, advances in vaccine technology provide a glimmer of hope.

However, its implementation is not easy. The vaccine will be effective if it is given simultaneously to 70 percent of the population. Vaccine efficacy levels, procurement capacity, and smooth distribution have their own challenges, especially in Indonesia, not to mention the question of price or resistance related to producing countries and religious values.

Also read: Collaboration Necessary in COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

Indonesia targets to vaccinate 70 percent of its citizens aged 18-59, which totals about 107 million people. It means that 214 million doses are needed. Meanwhile, the spread of Covid-19 in Indonesia has been very fast. One person infected can infect many people. The increase is folded like a geometric progression.

The government\'s plan to optimize the vaccination in 2021 should be accompanied by a comprehensive effort in strengthening diagnosis, therapy, and developing an integrated health system as outlined by WHO.

Also read: Vaccine Supply Follows WHO Standards

JEFF J MITCHELL/POOL VIA AP

Paula McMahon prepares a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, as the mass public vaccination program gets underway, at the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020. The United Kingdom is beginning its vaccination campaign to inoculate people against the COVID-19 virus.

The efforts to help the economy to recover also need to be accompanied by tightening the Covid-19 health protocol. Increasing citizen discipline and accelerating digitalization push are the solutions.

No one is safe, until everyone is safe.

Here lies the need for adaptation and innovation as well as togetherness and collaboration between the state, society and industry, even with political "opponents’. The Covid-19 pandemic is above and beyond politics. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is our only common enemy, not others.

Combating a pandemic requires the synchronization of all national powers. "No one is safe, until everyone is safe," WHO reminded all people on earth.

Also read: Vaccination Pending Scientific Study

Considering that the Covid-19 pandemic is a new issue, more transformation and innovation is needed. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, always reminds us that innovation does not necessarily come from a good idea. Many innovations actually arise after trying of many things. Charles Darwin also reminded that in the long history of humankind and even animal species, only those who can collaborate and adapt more effectively will come out as the winners in natural selection.

PricewaterhouseCoopers once predicted that Indonesia would become the fifth-largest economy in the world by 2030 and the fourth-largest by 2050. 2021 will be the decisive year. Can the entire Indonesian nation adapt, collaborate, and produce many innovations? Or, even being left out and defeated by SARS-CoV-2.