Pilkada In The Pandemic Vortex: 76 Candidates For Regional Head Infected With COVID-19

JAKARTA - The Coalition of LaporCOVID-19 recorded that there have been 79 regional head candidates in the 2020 simultaneous regional elections who were declared infected with COVID-19 since the registration period on September 4 until now.

Of the 76 candidates for regional head, the distribution is 44 regent candidates, 19 deputy regent candidates, 10 mayor candidates, 2 deputy mayor candidates, and 1 governor candidate.

"As of December 5, 2020, there are still five candidates for regional head who are still under treatment, namely one candidate for governor and four candidates for regent and deputy regent," said the initiator of LaporCOVID-19, Irma Hidayat in his statement, Monday, December 7.

They are the candidate for Governor of Central Kalimantan, Sugianto Sabran; candidate for Regent of South Tapanuli Regency, M Siregar; candidate for Regent of Indramayu Regency, Daniel Mutaqien; candidate for Deputy Regent of Pangkajene and Islands Regencies, Syahban Sammana; and the candidate for deputy regent of Lamongan district, Abdul Rouf.

Then, four of the cakada infected with COVID-19 died. They are Eko Suharjo, candidate for Mayor of Dumai; Adi Darma, candidate for Mayor of Bontang City; candidate for Regent of Central Bangka Regency, Ibnu Saleh; and the Regent of Berau, Muharram as a candidate for incumbent regent.

According to Irma, dozens of potential regional heads of COVID-19 were accompanied by an increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Since 29 November, every day more than 6,000 new cases or people who have contracted COVID-19.

As of Sunday, December 6, 2020, more than half a million Indonesians were exposed to COVID-19, and at least 17,000 people died with a positive status for COVID-19.

"The actual number of victims could be much higher, due to poor data collection. According to reports from regencies and cities in Indonesia, the total number of victims of COVID-19 in Indonesia, including suspects and probabilities, reached 42,602 people," explained Irma.

Irma said the current state of the pandemic shows that the pandemic is getting out of control and endangers the health of citizens. But unfortunately, this figure has not been able to stop the government's decision to continue holding regional elections.

Although the voting day is only two days away, namely on Wednesday, December 9, ReportCOVID-19 is still urging the government to postpone the 2020 Pilkada.

"The government should continue to postpone the implementation of the pilkada until the COVID-19 pandemic is under control. This means that there will be no additional new COVID-19 cases, improved testing, contact tracing, and isolation service facilities for COVID-19 patients. If the elections continue, this will lead to the potential for home collapse. sick along with our health workers, "he added.