Pandemic Handling Improves, Never be Lax

SEKRETARIAT KEPRESIDENAN

President Joko Widodo listens to the explanation from the Expert Team of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling Covid-19 Wiku Adisasmito at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (24/6/2020).

The improving control of Covid-19 should not lead to a slackening of health protocols and public activity restrictions. Without proper alertness, surging cases may again occur.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Various surveys have indicated that the control of Covid-19 in Indonesia is improving, as shown by the declining number of active cases and the increasing vaccination coverage. Yet this should not cause the government and public to become careless.

“The Indonesian government has controlled the potential for infection through various measures, in providing multiple forms of protection. This present achievement has resulted from the cooperation between all elements of society implementing the policies optimally,” said Covid-19 Control Task Force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito in Jakarta on Friday (8/10/2021).

Indonesia has become the country with the highest rank in Southeast Asia.

Based on the Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index, Indonesia’s ranking has risen from 92nd to 54th. It’s position is now higher than South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Indonesia has become the country with the highest rank in Southeast Asia.

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The Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index assesses the standing of more than 120 countries in terms of infection management, vaccination realization and social mobility in their control of Covid-19. The higher the rank achieved, the better is the relevant country’s recovery.

The Kompas-Indonesia Covid-19 Control Index (IPC) this week has also displayed an improvement in pandemic handling. The IPC national score on 4 October 2021 increased by two points over that of the previous week, from 73 to 75. Only three provinces scored lower by 2 to 4 points, which were Bengkulu, West Kalimantan, and Papua.

The national score rise was triggered by the improvement of two aspects, infection management and treatment management. None of the 34 provinces listed saw their score decline in infection management. It means that no region has experienced rising cases of infection.

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin accompanied by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin while reviewing the Covid-19 vaccination at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jakarta, Thursday (23/9/2021). This is the second dose of vaccine for media workers.

However, of the six indicators making up the IPC, full-dose vaccinations still earned the lowest score. Despite the vaccination coverage increase, its expansion was not yet significant enough to change the vaccine indicator’s score in the IPC.

Multitier policy

Wiku stated that the multitier policy in Indonesia had supported Covid-19 control. The policy covers the enforcement of social activity restrictions (PPKM) according to regional conditions, the restriction of domestic and foreign travel, the strengthening of health facilities through quick response to supply drugs and health equipment as well as the presence of centralized isolation centers.

Other efforts are the supervision of health protocols through social empowerment, the strengthening of health digital infrastructure and the expansion of vaccination coverage. “The application of this multitier policy is the key to Indonesia’s upper hand,” he said.

Indonesia will take advantage of the G-20 Summit in 2022 in Bali as a forum to present the capabilities of the country’s pandemic control. “I have just inspected the preparedness of several venues in Bali,” said President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

In spite of the improving Covid-19 contagion situation, Wiku warned the government and public against any laxity. Health protocols should continue to be observed with greater discipline. Tighter supervision should be conducted.

Data from the Johns Hopkins CCP Covid Behaviors Dashboard show that people’s behavior related to social norms and prevention had begun to decline.

Social change and behavior communication consultant of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), Dian Rosdiana, said public alertness should remain heightened. Data from the Johns Hopkins CCP Covid Behaviors Dashboard show that people’s behavior related to social norms and prevention had begun to decline.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Visitors scan the QR through the PeduliLindung application before entering the Mayestik Market, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Sunday (3/10/2021).

This is in line with the degree of public anxiety over Covid-19 infection, which currently does not reach 40 percent. “Public communication should emphasize that Covid-19 still exists and must be watched out for,” she said.

Education on vaccine efficacy

Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) digital campaign consultant Alphian Angga Pratama said a PMI survey from 7 to 30 September 2021 targeting 2,503 respondents revealed the importance of information about the side effects and post-Covid-19 immunization adverse reactions. Of 97 uninoculated people, 42.3 percent feared the injection and its side effects.

“The strategy of vaccination communication should specifically aim at the group still unwilling to be vaccinated. The involvement of healthcare workers, religious figures and community leaders is important to educate people on the safety and efficacy of vaccines,” he added. Currently, the number of people who have received the second-dose total 56.7 million, 26.94 percent of their target.

A number of regions are striving to accelerate the vaccinations. The city administration of Padang, West Sumatra, is making it obligatory to produce vaccine cards for mall visitors. Meanwhile in Cirebon, West Java, the regency administration has prioritized vaccinations for 135 villages organizing village-head elections.(TAN/VIO/JOL/IKI/CAS/GI/KOMPAS R&D DIVISION)

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira).