Many regions have been implementing micro-scale social restrictions, which have proven ineffective at curbing COVID-19. The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.
By
KOMPAS TEAM
·5 minutes read
KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA
Health workers encourage the coffin to pick up the bodies to the Covid-19 patient care room at the KRMT Wongsonegoro Hospital, Semarang City, Monday (28/6/2021).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Professional groups have urged the government to quickly impose stricter social restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 on Java. Without strict measures, the current situation may only spread to other areas, making it difficult to predict when it will end.
University of Indonesia medical professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama, who was also the World Health Organization Southeast Asia Regional Office’s (WHO SEARO) former infectious diseases director, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the current policy could not accommodate the situation at hand. Public mobility is still high, the number of patients continues to increase and health facilities are collapsing.
“It is time to impose stricter restrictions to limit human contact as much as possible. These restrictions must be firm until the number of cases decreases as well as the number of patients in the hospital,” he said.
Currently, several regions have implemented micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro), which has been deemed ineffective at curbing COVID-19. Hospitals are overcrowded, health workers are overtaxed and patients are dying before they are able to be treated, with deaths growing amid exhausted funeral workers.
As of Tuesday, Indonesia had reported a cumulative total of 2,156,465 COVID-19 cases, with 1,869,606 recoveries and 58,024 deaths.
The mirco-scale closure of several areas was unable to stem the spike in cases because of a lack of coordination with other regions. “The central government must take the lead in coordinating with other regions,” said Bayu Dardias, a lecturer in politics and governance at Gadjah Mada University (UGM).
DOKUMENTASI DESA TENJOLAYA
Officers from Tenjolaya Village, Pasirjambu District, Bandung Regency, West Java, prepare to bury the bodies of Covid-19 patients, Tuesday (22/6/2021). The village government provides ambulances for its residents, including those suffering from Covid-19.
Other countries with decentralized health policies are currently also overwhelmed by the pandemic. Meanwhile, centralized command can accelerate handling of the pandemic, as seen in China and Vietnam.
Banten Governor Wahidin Halim asked for a comprehensive evaluation of the policies for handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Local administrations are distraught, especially because the current policy has been ineffective in the field.
Wahidin asked for a national strategic policy, including financial aid for regions facing difficulties. As cases also rise, Wahidin and his deputy governor have also had COVID-19. As of Monday, the cumulative case total in Banten had reached 58,336, with 1,474 deaths.
In Yogyakarta on Sunday, the record for the daily case increase was broken again with 830 confirmed cases. It was then broken yet again on Monday with 859 cases. On Tuesday, 850 cases were reported.
RoomStat Applied Statistics Laboratory founder Budhi Handoyo Nugroho said that according to his calculations, COVID-19 cases in Yogyakarta would only begin to slope downward again on Sept. 9 if the administration continued to implement PPKM Mikro. If the administration imposed stricter social restrictions, the decline in cases would occur faster.
RSUD DR SOETOMO
The surge in Covid-19 in East Java resulted in the handling of patients at the Dr Soetomo Hospital (RSUD), Surabaya, was booming, Saturday (26/6/2021). To anticipate the addition of new patients, RSUD optimizes six spaces and utilizes the parking building.
Complete strictness
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) deputy chair Anton J Supit said the prolonged health crisis would further harm the economy. Though it will feel heavy at first, the government must implement stricter mobility restrictions to control the pandemic and simultaneously save the economy.
“A quick and decisive decision must be made to curb the spread. Compared to when the PSBB [large-scale social restrictions] were previously implemented, the conditions are worse now. So why is it that our attitudes are more relaxed?” said Anton.
Those who are self-isolating at home must be supported by monitoring from health workers. Virtual routine communication can be done.
He said the current situation was a result of a less stringent initial decision. “Now, saving lives must come first. It is better for us to lose for a while, as it will be better for the long term,” he added.
Now, said Tjandra Yoga, tracing and tracking must be optimized. These two efforts are crucial in identifying the chain of transmission within a community so treatment can be carried out immediately. “Those who are self-isolating at home must be supported by monitoring from health workers. Virtual routine communication can be done,” he said.
In several areas, COVID-19 referral hospitals set up emergency isolation rooms and were immediately filled, such as in Sidoarjo, East Java. A total of 1,000 people out of 1,025 hospital beds are being treated for COVID-19 across 19 referral hospitals.
In Malang, Brawijaya University student dorms are being used for additional isolation rooms for asymptomatic patients. The three-story dormitory is located on half a hectare of land.
“This is about humanity. This morning we had a meeting and it was decided that we were ready. We immediately checked the water conditions and the plan to accept patients,” said Brawijaya University chancellor Nuhfil Hanani.
COVID-19 referral hospitals in West Java have also been overwhelmed by a surge in patients. The proposal for a lockdown or a regional quarantine has been hampered by budget constraints for the logistical needs of residents.
COVID-19 cases in West Java have spiked significantly in the last 1.5 months. The total of confirmed cases reported during the Idul Fitri holidays was 295,179. That figure had increased to 359,469 cases, up 21.78 percent on Tuesday.
Areas on the northern coast of Java, such as Semarang, Brebes, Tegal and Cirebon, are also seeing spikes in COVID-19 cases that have left health facilities almost paralyzed.
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