Coping with Covid-19 Pandemic in Transportation Sector
From the very beginning of the pandemic, we realized that transportation, especially international flights, contribute to the rapid transmission of Covid-19 throughout the world.
From the very beginning of the pandemic, we realized that transportation, especially international flights, contribute to the rapid transmission of Covid-19 throughout the world.
Covid-19 was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020 as a pandemic, highlighting its global spread. Thus, it is not surprising that the transportation sector is a key aspect in controlling the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in all countries, including Indonesia. Other efforts are to impose social distancing and to prevent crowds in social and economic activities, including in public transportation.
In coping with the pandemic, the government focuses on two goals in the transportation sector. First, to keep passenger and goods transportation running smoothly, especially logistics transportation, with some limitations, and to prevent public transportation from becoming a transmission medium for Covid-19.
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Second, to support and to make sure that the transportation of medicines and medical equipment, including the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccines or "humanitarian logistics" throughout the regions, runs smoothly. As reported, Garuda Indonesia transported 15 million doses of coronavirus vaccine raw material from China in January for further processing at state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma. Previously, Sinovac had delivered 3 million doses of vaccine to Indonesia in packaged forms.
In addition, despite the pandemic, the government continues its programs to develop strategic infrastructure facilities in the transportation sector, especially those included in the national strategic projects, in order to support economic recovery, especially once the pandemic has been brought under control. One of them is the development of Patimban Port, the first stage of construction on which has been completed.
Controlling Covid-19 transmission
A number of mobility restrictions have been enforced in the transportation sector to help limit the spread of Covid-19, such as the temporary suspension of international flights from and to mainland China in February, 2020, and the ban on Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) in late May 2020. A number of regulations have also been issued to support the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) and public activity restrictions (PPKM) as well as adapting to a new normal with strict health protocols.
Strict health protocols will continue to be implemented in public transportation services during and after the vaccination period. Public transportation operators, such as Garuda Indonesia, PT KA and Pelni are expected to become role models for the community on how to transport people humanely, hygienically, conveniently and safely during the pandemic, including the handling of airports and railway stations.
When will we end the implementation of the strict health protocols and other restrictions? Of course, when the pandemic is over. The stringent health protocols in public transportation will be eased only after the Covid-10 transmission can be effectively controlled. However, humanist, hygienic, safe, comfortable transportation services should be further promoted in the public.
The public transport sector should ideally become the midpoint in the efforts to recover the economy and to control the Covid-19 transmission or to combine the two mitigation efforts in balance.
To minimize the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy while supporting the economic recovery efforts, the government has ensured the smooth flow of passengers and goods, of course, with the implementation of health protocols according to standard procedures.
Thus, public transportation will not become a medium for the transmission of the new coronavirus between humans or between humans and goods. The transmission from goods to humans is also possible, because the coronavirus has been found in commodities such as exported / imported frozen seafood.
Numerous policies have been issued in the form of ministerial regulations, technical guidelines and circulars to control all public transportation services such as railways, air transportation (international and domestic) and sea transportation.
The transportation policies during the pandemic and the implementation of related regulations are instrumental in controlling the spread of Covid-19 in the sector. Numerous policies have been issued in the form of ministerial regulations, technical guidelines and circulars to control all public transportation services such as railways, air transportation (international and domestic) and sea transportation.
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During the first months of the pandemic, a number of regulations were introduced, including Transportation Ministry Regulation No. 18/2020, which was issued on April, 2020, on the control of public transportation in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and Transportation Ministery Regulation No. 25/2020 concerning the control of public transportation to prevent Covid-19 transmission during the Idul Fitri holidays in late May, 2020.
Entering the new normal phase, several provisions were slightly eased in June 2020 with the issuance of Transportation Ministry Regulation No 41/2020 concerning amendments to Transportation Ministry Regulation No 18/2020. This regulation was followed by the issuance of technical guidelines for its implementation on land, sea, air and rail transportation during the new normal period with some changes. The technical guidelines are stipulated in a series of circulars (SE) such as SE No. 11 to No. 26 / 2020, and SE No. 1/2021 to No. 22/2021.
During the new normal period, the limit of the number of bus passengers, for example, was increased to 70 percent of seat capacity from 50 percent previously.
In connection with the increase in number of new daily Covid-19 cases and the indication of a second Covid-19 wave in a number of regions, such as Jakarta, the government decided to reimpose the PSBB restrictions. To support this program, ahead of the 2020 Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Transportation Ministry issued a number of instructions, including SE No. 20 to SE No. 24/2020, to impose travel restrictions in land, sea and air transportation.
For example, air passengers are required to present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid test certificate taken no more than three days before the departure time for overseas trips, and a similar certificate taken no more than seven days ago for flights to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar. Travelers are also required to fill in a health alert form (e-HAC).
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In responding to the reported emergence of new Covid-19 variants, including B117, and to support the circular No. 1/2021 issued by the chairman of the Covid-19 Handling Task Force and the implementation of the public activity restrictions (PPKM) in Bali and Java, the Transportation Ministry has issued a number of circulars that, among other aims, impose a temporary ban on foreigners entering Indonesian territory, either by sea or air, with a few exceptions, such as holders of diplomatic stay permits and holders of limited stay permits and permanent stay permits.
In addition, it also tightens restrictions on travelers. Travelers using a train or an airplane should present negative rapid or PCR test results certificate that is valid only for two days, or for one day before departure for flights to I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport.
The government is trying to prevent public transportation from becoming a medium for the Covid-19 transmission. However, this should not affect the transportation programs and distribution of basic and important goods, especially to underdeveloped, remote, outermost and border areas, which are mostly located in eastern Indonesia, either via toll roads, sea and air transportation. Cargo transportation by sea continues to increase from year to year. As of October 2020, maritime cargo increased 78 percent to 6,653 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 2,396 TEUs in 2019.
Humanitarian logistics
The vast area of Indonesia is quite challenging for the distribution of health equipment used for Covid-19 mitigation efforts and basic commodities.
In the distribution of humanitarian logistics, there should good coordination among ministries and government institutions involved, such as the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNP), the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), the Health Ministry, the Transportation Ministry, local governments, and medical / pharmaceutical equipment distributors.
The national disaster, which was caused by the spread of Covid-19, including the distribution of humanitarian logistics, is handled by the Covid-19 task force, which was chaired by the head of the BNPB.
Covid-19 has been declared a non-natural national disaster in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 12/2020. The national disaster, which was caused by the spread of Covid-19, including the distribution of humanitarian logistics, is handled by the Covid-19 task force, which was chaired by the head of the BNPB. Since July, 2020, the task force has been part of the COVID-19 handling and national economic recovery committee (KPCPEN), as stipulated in Presidential Decree No. 82/2020.
The transportation of humanitarian logistics related to Covid-19 is not an easy job, especially those related to medical equipment and materials to all referral hospitals (940 units as of November 2020) and national reference laboratories (510 units as of November 2020) through regional task forces.
In 2020, medical equipment distributed included 9,726,449 hazmat suits, 25,183,369 surgical masks, 7,819,632 N-95 masks, 175,995 face shields, 1,090,588 medical gloves, 10,600,000 rapid test kits (antibodies and antigens), and 1,310 apheresis machines as well as a large number of ventilators, boots, sanitizer, medicine, groceries assistance for affected residents, and others.
The most crucial thing at this time is the transportation of the Covid-19 vaccines from their manufacturers to all parts of the country. First, the transportation of the vaccines (in finished form or as raw material in bulk) must be handled specifically, starting from its overseas manufacturers to the factory (Biofarma) and then to warehouses requiring the use of cold chain / ultra-cold chain with special specifications.
The Sinovac vaccine, for example, can be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature between minus 2 and minus 8 degrees Celsius. The Moderna vaccine can be stored at the same temperature, but its delivery requires a temperature of minus 25 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the Pfizer vaccine requires storage at a temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius. The expiration date is generally estimated at six months. The vaccines in unpacked containers generally last only six hours in the vaccine carrier or passive containers.
The total need for vaccination for the 181.5 million people for two injections, including buffers, is estimated at 426 million doses. With a volume per dose of 0.5 milliliter (cc), the total is "only" 213,000 liters, but putting that into 426 million bottles (vials) and distributing it to 181.5 million vaccination patients across the country is a big and tough job.
To get 426 million doses, we have to race against time and compete with many countries, although the government has reportedly secured contracts to obtain 270 million doses from various vaccine manufacturers.
Complicating the distribution of vaccine raw materials and finished vaccines is the fact that all are still imported. To get 426 million doses, we have to race against time and compete with many countries, although the government has reportedly secured contracts to obtain 270 million doses from various vaccine manufacturers.
Ideally, the 426 million doses of vaccine can be available in just a few months, so that they can be distributed to all regions simultaneously. This way, by the beginning of second semester, the vaccination of all the population targets could be completed. However, it is difficult to, because, until early March 2020, only 3 million doses (finished vaccine) and 35 million doses of raw vaccine material (equivalent to 28 million doses of finished vaccine) have been realized, or only 7.3 percent of the total needed for vaccination.
In addition, the logistics of Covid-19 vaccination does not only relate to vaccines but also safety boxes and alcohol for swabs. To complete this grand vaccination agenda, we must work hand in hand and support each other, including the preparation of their distribution.
Budi Karya Sumadi is the Transportation Minister.
(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)