Indonesia's Covid-19 Task Force Responds to Coronavirus Hotspot Claims

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Spokesperson for the National Covid-19 Task Force Achmad Yurianto calls on the public to be disciplined amid claims that Indonesia is the world’s next coronavirus hotspot.

The Sydney Morning Herald published an article in mid-June which assessed Indonesia’s coronavirus situation to argue whether the country could be the next coronavirus hotspot.

Achmad Yurianto reminded the public that discipline is necessary during the new normal to minimize the spread of Covid-19 infection.

Read also: The Sydney Morning Herald Claims Indonesia Could Be the Worlds Next Coronavirus Hotspot

Indonesia’s new normal transition has been on since early June and it has come with a staggering increase in new daily Covid-19 infections.

After surpassing Singapore which previously had the highest total coronavirus confirmed cases in ASEAN, Indonesia’s total Covid-19 cases stand at over 51,000 as of June 26.

Read also: Indonesia’s Covid-19 Cases Officially Highest in ASEAN

This week, Indonesia has recorded new daily infections in the thousands – a pattern similar to that from previous weeks.

As such, Achmad Yurianto pointed out that remaining productive and safe from the coronavirus must go hand in hand.

He also said that the rising number of Covid-19 infections since the start of the new normal transition can be mitigated.

Read also: WHO Cautions Indonesia on New Normal Preparations

In the new normal, the Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson reaffirmed that activities outside the home must be for productive reasons.

Otherwise, Yuri recommends for people to remain at home to break the chain of infection.

Achmad Yurianto also emphasized that health protocols must be practiced when an individual steps out of their home.

Potential coronavirus hotspots

In his statement on June 27, Yuri shared three possible coronavirus hotspots in Indonesia’s new normal transition period.

One is office spaces. Yuri offered three recommendations for companies or building operators should comply with.

Read also: Jakarta Sights Roar Back to Life After Three-Month Slumber

“First is to pay attention to the distance between each worker, which should be at least 1.5 meters,” said Yuri.

The second aspect is to give attention to the duration employees spend together given that the more time spent together, the higher the chances of infection.

This possibility underscores the importance of employees practicing physical distancing and wearing masks inside an office building.

The final suggestion is to manage the ventilation and air circulation of the office space.

Another possible coronavirus hotspot during Indonesia’s new normal transition is restaurants, dining venues, canteens, and shops.

Yuri suggests that business owners and the public in general abide by the country’s Covid-19 health protocols.

The third potential coronavirus hotspot is mass transportation services even though the Indonesian government has issued regulations to minimize overcrowding.

The various risks of new coronavirus outbreaks are why Yuri cautions Indonesians to follow the country’s Covid-19 health protocols. 

(Writer: Dian Erika Nugraheny | Editor: Icha Rastika) 

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/06/27/14082811/indonesia-disebut-bisa-jadi-hotspot-covid-19-ini-tanggapan-pemerintah