Clerics should also help encourage teachers and students to be self-disciplined in adhering health protocols to prevent the Covid-19 transmission in the community, especially their parents.
By
AMBROSIUS HARTO
·5 minutes read
Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta
Residents from Madura Island who were positive for Covid-19 who were identified during the insulation on the Suramadu Bridge arrived at the Indrapura Field Hospital in Surabaya, East Java, Tuesday (15/6/2021). Three patients from Madura who were treated on June 6, 2021 were infected with the new variant of Covid-19, Delta
New Covid-19 cases in Bangkalan, Madura Island, East Java, have continued to increase for almost two weeks since the surge was first detected on Saturday (5/6/2021). Bangkalan has even been categorized as a red zone. The local government has asked clerics to help calm the residents.
New Covid-19 variant B.1.617.2 or Delta also has hit Bangkalan. Two of the three patients infected by the Delta variant at the emergency hospital run by the Kogabwilhan II joint military command in Surabaya came from Bangkalan.
However, this precarious situation did not deter the people of Bangkalan, the westernmost regency in Madura island, which is also known as “Nusa Garam” or the land of salt.
Last Tuesday, when Kompas drove from the Suramadu Bridge to the capital of the regency, there were many residents not wearing face masks. Residents also gathered without keeping a safe distance.
Many residents still underestimated or even considered Covid-19 a part of a conspiracy. Mahmudin (45), a resident of Bangkalan, an owner of a food stall, said he did not believe in Covid-19. He only used his mask when there were customers.
"So far I have been healthy, Sir. I also don\'t want to get tested. If I tested positive, I would be treated and I can\'t make money," he said.
Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta
Officers provide certificates to patients who have recovered and are preparing to return home at the Indrapura Field Hospital in Surabaya, East Java, Tuesday (15/6/2021).
Ulemas, who are highly trusted by the Madurese, including Bangkalan residents, were also asked to help raise public awareness of the dangers of Covid-19.
“Those who tested positive declined to go to the hospital. Or they only sought treatment when their condition had become so severe and were on the brink of death. We have asked clerics to remind the residents, especially when there is a new mutation of the virus," said Bangkalan regent Abdul Latif Amin Imron during a meeting between Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD and the local clerics to discuss the handling of Covid-19 at the Rato Ebuh building yesterday.
Minister Mahfud said; “ At first, I was one of those underestimated Covid-19. However, I finally realized that Covid-19 is real and dangerous.”
The role of clerics in Bangkalan, said Mahfud, who was born in Madura, was needed to raise public awareness about the dangers of Covid-19 and to be actively involved in handling the spread of the disease.
Awareness
Senior leader of Nahdlatul Ulama and the chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) KH Miftachul Akhyar invited all local clerics, most of whom are his friends, to help disseminate information about the dangers of Covid-19. Akhyar gave an example that during the era of the Great Prophet Muhammad SAW, the people were asked to avoid or stay away for safety when there was a disease outbreak.
“Allah has assigned us, humans, to prosper the world. Currently, the world is being hit by a pandemic, so it is the human obligation to overcome it and fight for prosperity," said Akhyar.
KH Imam Bukhori Cholil, the caretaker of the Ibnu Cholil Islamic Boarding School, Bangkalan, said that based on his observations there were three things that made the people not to believe in the existence of Covid-19.
First, there was an exaggeration in the handling of Covid-19. For example, the burial of a woman who died in childbirth or someone who died due to an accident had to follow health protocols like burying a Covid-19 patient. "The people thought that all the dead people should be treated like Covid-19 patients. They did not know that such funerals were carried out with health protocols to avoid crowds or reduce the risk of transmission. This kind of information is not disseminated," he said.
Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta
Medical personnel conduct a rapid antigen test on bus passengers from Madura Island at the exit of the Suramadu Bridge, Surabaya, East Java, Monday (7/6/2021). Blocking and inspection for motorists from Madura Island to Surabaya has been intensified again due to the increasing number of positive cases of Covid-19 in Bangkalan Regency.
Second, it was also suspected that government officials tried to cover up the real condition of the Covid-19 transmission in their regions. Testing, tracing, treatment ( 3T) efforts were not seriously taken to give the impression that the areas were in a safe condition.
Before there was a spike in new cases in Bangkalan, it seemed that the situation in Madura was under control. However, the impression of being fine was like a time bomb which eventually exploded.
Third, clerics should also help encourage teachers and students to be self-disciplined in adhering health protocols to prevent the Covid-19 transmission in the community, especially their parents.
"We know the health protocols make us feel uncomfortable. However, if there is no discipline, the pandemic will never end. It\'s like sweeping the floor. The people should be prohibited from going back and forth so that the floor can be cleaned quickly. If there are people going back and forth, until the doomsday the floor cannot be cleaned, “Imam said.
Meanwhile, KH Makki Nasir, the caretaker of the Kemayoran Falahunnasiri Islamic Boarding School and the head of the NU branch in Bangkalan, said the discipline in adhering to health protocols and the willingness to help the officials in coping with Covid-19 are part of a religious duty . "So, if you don\'t want to be disciplined and don\'t believe in [Covid-19] like people don\'t follow the religious obligation," he said.
KH Achmad Romli Fakhri, the caretaker of the Taqrinih Timur Mano\'an Kokop Islamic Boarding School, said that believing in Covid-19 did not mean shirk. "Not believing in Covid-19, belittling it, is like not believing in the existence of the sun," he said.
There were many more inputs, advices, tips, which were expressed by nearly 40 senior clerics who were present at the gathering. These scholars tried to make people aware of the dangers of Covid-19. The collective awareness is expected to help simultaneously ease the Covid-19 pandemic.
