Indonesia needs to promote awareness on the emergency situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This awareness is important to make people cautious and alert that they are at risk of being infected with Covid-19.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
Thousands of people flocked to Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta, on Saturday and Sunday. Crowds could not be avoided as people shopped for groceries and clothes ahead of Idul Fitri. Most of them wore masks but in such crowded places, it was impossible to maintain a safe distance as required under health protocols (Kompas 3/5/2021).
The crowds at Tanah Abang Market are among many problems related to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic that concern us. Other concerning cases are the practice of bribery in order to evade quarantine and the use of used antigen test kits. The law has been enforced. For example, in the case related to the use of used antigen test kits at the Kimia Farma Laboratory at Kualanamu Airport, North Sumatra, the police have named five suspects (Kompas, 29/4/2021).
Such incidents show a lack of awareness on the emergency situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This has resulted in weak community discipline in implementing the health protocols. Unfortunately, the lack of discipline cannot be overcome optimally due to inconsistency in the enforcement of health protocols by the authorities.
In the case of crowds in Tanah Abang, it was clear that the restrictions on the number of the people allowed to visit the market or shopping centers were ignored. In fact, last year, especially in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, such restrictions were fully enforced especially during the period of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). In fact, those who did not adhere to health protocols received sanctions from the Covid-19 Task Force.
However, over time, people’s discipline in the implementation of the health protocols has declined despite the imposition of the micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro), such as in Jakarta. There are a number of factors that have caused the decline in discipline in the adherence to health protocols, such as boredom due to staying at home for too long and the euphoria of the vaccination.
On the other hand, law enforcement has limited manpower and lack of firmness in dealing with those who try to take the advantage of regulatory loopholes. This can be seen in the bribery case to evade quarantine. This case indicates that the officers who should be relied on in enforcing health protocols are unaware of the dangers that could occur due to the violations of these regulations.
We must be aware that Indonesia needs to work extra hard so as not to experience a new wave of Covid-19 transmission like in India. India may have felt overly confident. The Indian government and its people feel they no longer need to implement social restrictions as they think they have succeeded in controlling the pandemic. This has instead caused a resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the country.
The Indonesian government needs to make a new initiative to raise awareness on the emergency situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. People’s awareness of an emergency situation will help the handling of a pandemic.
This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.