WHO Cautions Indonesia on New Normal Preparations

KOMPAS.com – The World Health Organization (WHO) released the WHO Indonesia Situation Report highlighting the country’s preparation into the new normal.

The document is one of many reports the WHO recently released which calls attention to Coronavirus-related conditions globally.

In the WHO Indonesia Situation Report, the organization expresses its support toward the government’s approach to turning to epidemiological data before easing lockdown measures.

Read Also: Indonesia to Reinstate Tighter Measures If Covid-19 Cases Spike

The WHO also provided information on non-negotiable criteria that must be met before enforcing a new normal. These include:

• Rapid isolation for all suspected and confirmed cases
• Adequate clinical treatment for confirmed Covid-19 patients
• Extensive contact tracing and quarantine of those contacts
• Conducting contact tracing for a minimum 80% of new cases and enforcing quarantine for affected contacts within 72 hours of Covid-19 positive confirmation
• Minimum 80% of new cases must be monitored for 14 days
• Ensure the public upholds good handwashing habits, wears a mask at public places and work as well as practicing physical distancing of at least 1 meter

The report points out that the number of daily reported cases does not match the actual number of those infected with the Covid-19 virus.

This is the outcome of Indonesia’s shortage of laboratories that can conduct Covid-19 testing thus lab results can take up to a week before cases can be confirmed.

Gearing Up for the New Normal

The Indonesian government is in the midst of preparing a new normal protocol scenario while the Jakarta Governor has extended the capital city’s large-scale social distancing measures.

Until the end of June, the Jakarta Province will slowly transition into a new normal by gradually easing restrictions and businesses.

Read Also: Jakarta Prepares to Step into the ‘New Normal’

The first phase of easing measures includes allowing several business sectors and religious venues to reopen although with fewer capacity.

Offices, stores, hotels, factories, warehouses, small and medium businesses are among the business entities that have received the green light to restart operations.

If the implementation of health protocols fail and Covid-19 cases spike again, the government will enforce its ‘Emergency Brake Policy’ which will automatically stop any reopening activities.

Jakarta’s transition to a new normal started on 5 June and the provincial government broke records this week over daily infection cases.