Why Is Indonesia 'Silently' Facing The Corona Virus?

JAKARTA - The voice of the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control-Ministry of Health Anung Sugihantono rose when asked why the Indonesian government was 'relaxed' in dealing with the corona virus, even though in other countries the preparations were seriously intended.

Said Anung to answer the question, there is no need to scream in the face of the virus. He explained that the government had taken many steps and anticipations to prevent the corona virus from spreading in the country. This also makes the government calm in dealing with these problems.

"This is someone asking why Indonesia is taking it easy? What do I tell you to scream? How come you screaming like this, it won't end up messing up later. So please help us to prepare everything but there's no need to shout, right? , "said Anung, at the Ministry of Health's Balitbang Building, Jalan Percetakan Negara, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, February 11.

The corona virus or 2019-nCoV is currently a world concern. A number of countries have been infected with the virus originating from the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, China. In fact, countries around Indonesia have been infected. Meanwhile, Indonesia, which is the fourth most populous country, has yet to find a corona case. This basis is the question, how will Indonesia take steps to deal with the corona virus outbreak.

Anung explained that the Indonesian government had prepared a number of plans to deal with this virus. Among them are setting up 100 referral hospitals to accommodate patients who are indicated to have contracted the corona virus. If the number of hospitals is considered not comparable with Indonesia's population of 270 million, Anung explained, this has been through epidermological calculations.

"Currently we are preparing the Friendship Hospital, RSPAD, in the second layer we have prepared Cipto, Fatmawati, we have already prepared that. Siloam, we have prepared the other hospitals. But then we don't need to scream, the words will be different. No more. Don't go there, there is an infectious disease, the story will be different later, "he said.

He emphasized that the Indonesian government is not relaxed in facing this deadly virus. However, said Anung, the government's attitude which tends to be quiet is chosen because it does not want to create noise and fear in the community.

"Trust us, the government, we will continue to improve all the service skates for things like this. Yesterday I was from Tanjung Pinang, he only prepared two beds. Two rooms, two beds each. But the second layer is a doctor or a doctor. 18 rooms on the 5th floor have been prepared by nurses from our friends. So there is something end cast, the 18 rooms are for use, all on one floor in a separate place, "he explained.

According to Anung, when faced with such conditions, the government did not provide detailed information about the tools and the number of facilities that were prepared. This decision was made because the government had thought about the impact if this information was made public.

"We cannot convey these kinds of examples in detail or report them to the whole society so that wrong perspectives do not arise. I do not know which media want openness to what extent? But together with our friends we prepare things like this. in the field, "he explained.

Thank you Natuna community Thank you Indonesia 🇮🇩We are healthy, we are strong 💪 # Alertviruscorona pic.twitter.com/WCTQXPp2ZU

- Indonesian Ministry of Health (@KemenkesRI) February 4, 2020

Anung added that the government had not yet determined the corona outbreak as an extraordinary event (KLB) or an outbreak. Anung said, to state the corona virus was endemic in the country, Indonesia had the qualifications stated in the government regulation (PP).

If an area has an increase of one case doubled or in the same period, continued Anung, it is referred to as an outbreak. Outbreaks can be issued when viewed from a pandemic or epidemic. The outbreaks are associated with a very massive increase in cases over a rapid period and are occurring across the region.

The standard conditions for this outbreak are different from the definition of the WHO outbreak.

"The increase in incidents in the province, which was from 2 to 4 in the province, was declared an outbreak but not yet an outbreak. If the previous week it was reported 12 provinces, then today it increased to 34 provinces, which is called an outbreak in our understanding," he said.

However, the Government is following WHO's advice on the 14-day incubation period for the corona virus. This was also done when the government picked up 238 Indonesian citizens from China and quarantined them in Natuna. Meanwhile, Indonesian citizens or tourists originating from Singapore, Thailand or other countries, do not need to be quarantined.

"It has been explained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There are no restrictions on visits from abroad. All undergo health monitoring and surveillance procedures at the entrance to the country and the next 14 days," explained Anung.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto was offended when the government's handling of the corona virus was considered too relaxed by the international public. Terawan said the government was very prepared to face this corona virus.

"That's an insulting name. Our equipment yesterday was fixed with the US ambassador. We use it from the US. The kit is from America. The point is what we have done according to international standards, yes, all international standards. from those from WHO, we also invite them from America to also see the process with the tools they have, "said Terawan, at the State Palace.

The government, said Terawan, will not cover up any information related to the corona virus issue. According to him, his party has no objection if anyone wants to participate in researching the laboratory of the Ministry of Health, either from WHO or other parties.

"We are open, how come nothing is covered up. But if asked to compare it to other countries, the name is MTA, the material for the transfer agreement cannot be taken out, there is an outside agreement. They are welcome if they want to come here, please. We are in principle. very transparent and please those who want to check. So that no one doubts, our owners, other countries that have been accredited have recognized the WHO has also acknowledged, the tools also come from there, "he said.

"If someone else wants to do a survey and you suspect you are fine, but don't discredit a country. Studies are also allowed, we are alert from the start. We are not at all lax. We are not at all lax, we have not escaped, even the news that he said. "Anything that passes by we have already monitored everything. We will do the name surfilance tracking. So we follow it through the Health Service," he added.

WHO recognition for Indonesia

The World Health Organization or WHO ensures that Indonesia has the capability to detect the virus, even though the government is under pressure from various parties because it still has the status of zero corona virus or 2019n-CoV, and its capability is doubtful in detecting corona.

"We can confirm that Indonesia has a kit or equipment to detect the novel coronavirus. And the lab also has the competence to detect it," said Medical Officer at WHO Vinod Kumar Bura when met at the Balitbangkes Laboratory.

Vinod said, from the explanation of the Head of the Research and Development Agency Siswanto and the Head of the Center for Biomedical Research and Development and Basic Health Technology, Balitbangkes Vivi Setiawaty, WHO knows how the procedure and process of checking reagent samples, to confirmation of sample testing in Indonesia.

"They have examined 64 samples a few weeks ago, and confirmed that there is no corona virus and so we think the lab is very capable and has all the reagents needed to examine this case," he explained.

Even though Indonesia's capability has been confirmed, Vinod advised Indonesia to continue to anticipate and prepare for everything, including bad news if someone has tested positive for the corona virus in Indonesia.

"I think yes (something has to be done), because Indonesia is a big country, we have to be prepared. So I think to prepare for this and also build public awareness, people must be aware, and make sure," he explained.

"Every country must prepare, and I think Indonesia has also prepared, that all parties must have awareness, the public must also be aware, and all facilities should also function," he continued.

According to Vinod, WHO is still monitoring the corona virus, which has been endemic for about a month. Moreover, related to the transmission that is still being found, it can be done in various ways and still cannot be concluded with accuracy.

"We continue to monitor this disease how the disease progresses, because this disease is not known beforehand, so we continue to monitor and monitor and ensure the preparation is at the highest level," he explained.