Hope amid Threats

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The vaccinator injects the vaccine in the Covid-19 mass vaccination for public servants at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Sertajaya Village, East Cikarang District, Bekasi Regency, West Java, Monday (1/3/2021).

At the community level, within a year the Covid-19 pandemic has severely disrupted almost all activities, according to a recent survey conducted by the Research and Development Department of Kompas daily. The periodic survey showed that the real disruption occurred mostly on the economic fields. From March 2020 to February 2021, the decline in economic activities had forced residents to make extra effort to meet their daily needs.

It is inevitable that the decline in the economy has resulted in the decrease in quantity and quality of people’s needs. According to the June 2020 survey, for example, at least two-thirds of respondents (69.5 percent) said that their family\'s economic condition had deteriorated. At that time, the people especially those in the lower and middle economic groups focused their activities to meet primary needs, putting off the secondary-tertiary ones.

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In the next survey in August 2020, the economic impact of the pandemic became more widespread. Three-quarters (76.3 percent) of respondents acknowledged the worsening economic condition. In fact, in December 2020, almost 80 percent of respondents acknowledged that their family income had deteriorated.

The pandemic has not only destroyed the economic structure of families but social relations have also changed due to the social distancing policy. Patterns of social communication and interactions are shifting to be more technology-mediated. Psychologically, various forms of such threats often overshadow the daily activities of individuals. In such a crisis, the survey results showed that only a fifth of respondents admitted that they were not disturbed by the changes during the pandemic.

Kompas

Infographics A Year of Covid-19 Cases. Total Positive Cases (Total Kasus Positif). Total Cases Cured (Total Kasus Sembuh). Total Number of Patients Died (Jumlah Total Pasien Meninggal).

However, interestingly, in the midst of the ongoing threat of Covid-19, the enthusiasm (eagerness) and readiness of the community towards new patterns of normality are still well-maintained. It only fell slightly compared to that in the previous period.

The results of the survey at the end of February 2021 showed that 40.2 percent of respondents were still enthusiastic about life during the pandemic. The proportion of those who tended to be optimistic was relatively equal to those who were pessimistic.

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Still in line with optimism, the public satisfaction with the government\'s efforts in overcoming the pandemic also remains high. In the January 2021 survey, 58.9 percent expressed satisfaction. The same proportion of the respondents believed that the government was capable of overcoming the pandemic.

The positive attitude cannot be separated from the intensive vaccination program carried out by the government. With vaccination, if previously the people were in the dark, now there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That is why the trend of public satisfaction with regard to government performance is moving in a positive direction.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Health workers prepare to vaccinate a man during the Covid-19 mass vaccination at Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Sertajaya Village, East Cikarang District, Bekasi Regency, West Java, Monday (1/3/2021).

However, as seen in previous surveys, there are also people with opposing attitudes. In facing a new life during a pandemic, for example, the pessimism is more dominant.

It can also be seen that unpreparedness combined with the lack of enthusiasm in coping with the pressure of the pandemic has further kept them away from various pandemic countermeasures. In short, this group of people have little faith in the success of the government and is resistant to vaccination.

Also read: Light at the End of the Covid-19 Tunnel?

If traced further, the responses either related to satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the government\'s efforts to contain the pandemic, are not entirely based on what they have experienced. The interest affiliation of each individual also colors their attitudes. Most notably, the assessment of the success or failure in overcoming the pandemic is often affected by their support or rejection to the current regime\'s power practice.

Under such as condition, the pandemic has turned into ground for the struggle of interests. To a certain extent, the condition that has been built can be a new added value, especially in controlling pandemic prevention policies or practices. However, on the contrary, it can also become an obstacle that can further weaken the efforts in reducing new Covid-19 cases. ( Kompas daily’s R and D )

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi