Well, since the SARS-CoV-2, which in turn spread as COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) entered Indonesia, there are now roughly 117 cases spread nationwide, mostly still contained in Jakarta and its surrounding areas, as well as some in the Bali Island. And like I said in the previous article, even celebrities and politicians are not safe from this virus. Among the 117 who are infected, one of them is Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, who was previously diagnosed with typhus. As of today, President Joko Widodo offer a speech to encourage people to work and study at home. Schools are closed, public activities are limited, and social distancing is being encouraged as a prevention of the virus. Recently, there are opinions circulating today that in order to lock the virus from spreading further, the Jokowi administration must institute a lockdown policy like the ones currently placed in Italy, which has the most cases outside mainland China.
While in some countries this move could be the best decision ever made, but to implement it in an Island Nation like Indonesia is a tall order in itself. In order for a lockdown to be effective, it means that all activities, both socially, economically, and politically has to be shut down. Moreover, there must be enough food and other supplies that could last during a specific time frame, which means stockpiling all the essentials needed in a day-to-day basis. All trips, either by sea, land or air is suspended until further notice, and all public services are closed. But most importantly, the people are expected to comply with the policy, without causing any uproars or mass panics. So basically, the entire country is on a state of full quarantine just to contain a virus. So, should we put this 18.000+ island country on a lockdown? It’s not that simple.
When we look at the current situation in Italy, the lockdown policy is currently being implemented because of the compliance of all residents, and their understanding on how the virus spreads. Indonesians are (ironically) known to have a non-compliance mindset. Just a few days ago when the Special Region of Jakarta officials decided to temporarily close all government-run tourist destinations, every single Jakarta citizens instantly flooding Bogor and surrounding areas, in a desperate search for tourist attractions. Not to mention that Indonesia is not a country that situated in an area inside larger continent, but a cluster of islands that has their own population density and characteristics. Another thing that almost certain would happen if a lockdown is in place, is mass panic buying. When the first two cases were announced, there were mass panic everywhere, as people are scrambling to buy protective masks and hand sanitizers, as well as other supplies like instant and ready to eat meals. If you are a middle to upper class citizens, this wouldn’t be a big problem, but to others with a relatively low income and those who has day-to-day payrolls, like online taxi drivers, this is the hardest thing they have to endure. The policy would result in a loss of income. Not to mention those petty cheapskates who stockpiles those same essential items and resells them with really expensive prices. For example, a box of surgical masks usually costs around IDR 35.000, but what they did is resell them with the price range around IDR 350.000 to IDR 500.000. This alone can escalate to riots and looting, as people are desperate to fulfill their daily needs. Let’s not talk about locking down a country. To put Jakarta alone in a lockdown would result in a hefty financial crisis, not just in the affected city, but also nationwide. As with the reasons stated above, inflation is a huge nightmare, all because of the fact that Jakarta contributes around 20% of total nationwide inflation rate. If this is happening right now, the total inflation rate could skyrocket as high as 4 to 6%.
So, if the lockdown policy is not an option, what should we do then? There is something called social distancing, which essentially means to distance an individual’s activities in a larger crowded area. This can take many forms, like avoiding unnecessary trips for leisure or tourism, limiting the use of public transports, avoiding human-to-human contact, or avoid going to crowded places like shopping malls, parks, or even public events. In Singapore, such policies are currently put in place, particularly for citizens of old age (as we all know, most fatalities of COVID-19 are from people with old age or complications of other medical conditions). Still related with the first reason above, limiting public events (even if it’s a religious event) is necessary to prevent the spread of this disease. We never know if some of us went to a convention or some sort, and among the visitors, there was one particular person who wasn’t aware that he/she contracted the virus, and dismissing the symptoms like that of a common flu, and ended up infecting all the population inside that event venue. Another means to stop the virus from running rampant is by self-isolation. This is done if someone experiences a flu-like symptoms like fever, coughing, sneezing, headache, or even minor respiratory problem. The duration of this is usually 14 days, or until further tests are conducted. During the time frame, the person who is isolating is expected to stay separate from their families, preferably in a separate room. He/she is also required to wear mask; and has to be approximately 1 meter away from the rest of the occupants. Appliances like plates, forks, spoons, glasses and other utensils are to be used separately during this time. When coughing or sneezing, use the inside of the forearm to cover the mouth, instead of the palm of the hand. Disinfecting everything and every surface in contact with the patient is also mandatory.
When it comes to preventive measures of COVID-19, the Indonesian government is doing the best, without compromising the welfare and security of the people. While ideally, the lockdown policy would be effective, but to put it on a country like Indonesia could cause a major mass hysteria. Not only that, but the country would suffer economically due to the restriction of income. So, for you who wants President Jokowi to lock the country down, consider this: Could we survive the economic implications of this policy? And Can you guarantee that all essential supplies are available and affordable? Do you have enough savings to support your family in the times like this? If your answer is yes, then start locking your house first, and wait for others to do the same. But if you answer no, then shut your gaping pieholes and let the President and his cabinet work to mitigate this disease.
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