Indonesia urges people to avoid non-essential travel
Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia, suspects that the Covid-19 cases will remain very high in Indonesia until the end of 2020. Or even the beginning of next 2021. "The peak will probably come next year".
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - An early warning has just been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, indicating a level 3 warning on non-essential travel. The risks of Covid-19 in Indonesia are now very high and travel has become one of the most "predictable" causes of the massive spread of the coronavirus.
The CDC is advising travellers to avoid all non-essential international travel to Indonesia. Travelers at increased risk of serious COVID-19 disease should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel to Indonesia.
A Catholic woman, who works in finance in Semarang, the capital of Central Java, was forced to quarantine for at least 19 days after confirming that she contracted Covid-19. "It happened after a trip to Bali with my family," says today Budi, a former participant at an AsiaNews seminar.
Upon returning from the trip to Bali, tests for Covid-19 revealed that Budi's wife had the virus. "What has been very worrying for the family is the fact that it happened, without any physical symptoms," adds Budi. He himself and his two adult children are negative for covid-19.
During self-isolation, he says, his wife took many medications as prescribed by the doctor. "But she also consumed high doses of vitamin C and other health supplements." "We were very anxious, because my wife was unexpectedly infected, despite the fact that we followed all the health instructions very strictly at home," says Budi.
In several cities, a procedure has been imposed whereby arriving travellers must undergo certain tests or quarantine procedures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
In Central Java, the Archdiocese of Semarang suspended its initial plan to open all religious pilgrimage sites across the province. The Marian shrine of “Gua Kerep” in Ambarawa of the Semarang regency was set to be officially inaugurated today, 8 September but yesterday evening, the local ecclesiastical authorities released a statement that the Marian shrine “Gua Maria Kerep Ambarawa” will be open on October 1st at the latest. "Due to the ongoing spread of Covid-19".
"Stay home as much as possible"
"Stay home as much as possible" reads the public notice issued by health authorities in almost every city.
Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia, suspects that Covid-19 cases will remain sky-high in Indonesia until the end of 2020. Or even early next 2021. "The peak will likely come next year," he says.
Riono's argument is mainly based on the fact that in the six months since the beginning of March, when the nationwide epidemic was officially denounced, "there have been no indications that Covid-19 infection rates have eased. Indeed, it’s the exact opposite: the last few weeks show a worrying growth in cases ".
Riono suggested that the Indonesian authority's response to Covid-19 should be radically changed. "We must not focus primarily on economic recovery, but also significantly reduce Covid-19". Among other things, by constantly testing, tracing and close quarantine of suspected Covid-19.
Local authorities’ reticence in implementing health protocols
On September 3, 2020, Indonesia set its daily record, with at least 3,622 new cases emerging. The total number of cases is 184,268.
The question is: why are the numerous cases endless?
Indonesia has been widely accused of having a cumbersome economy and too much bureaucracy.
NGO Covid-19 activists have harsh criticisms of the slowness of local authorities to implement what President Joko Widodo has rigorously advocated: These include travel bans and social distancing, the use of masks or facial screens.
Former Indonesian police chief Tito Karsavina also said that as a democratic nation Indonesia has faced many "challenges" to implement its austerity policy to reduce covid-19. A similar challenge to that of other democratic nations such as the United States of America which have found it difficult to implement the strict health protocol, we are on the same path.
In comments published on the Indonesian Interior Ministry official website, Karnavian adds that the situation in autocratic nations, such as Vietnam or China, is completely different because authority rests with a handful of people so policies can be effectively applied at a grassroots level.
This "failure" was even admitted by the Nationalcovid-19 task force which confirmed that significantly high cases have become the principal concern and policies to date have not fully achieved the expected results.
"We are really not yet able to achieve our intended goals to reduce the pandemic," said Wiku Adisasmito, citing that four provinces have become the main point of spread of the virus: Greater Jakarta (DKI), West Java, Central Java and East Java.
Unlike these four provinces of Java (and Bali), where transportation is available anytime, anywhere, other islands still find serious challenges in their inland transportation.
On the island of Batam in the province of Riau, two hospitals have been swamped and are now without available beds for Covid-19 patients. Batam Island is very close to Singapore, just 30 minutes by ferry.
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04/01/2021 15:20
06/10/2005
