Doni Monardo: 102 Regencies / Cities Green Zone To Open 9 Economic Sectors Soon

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 Doni Monardo said the government is considering the opening of 9 economic sectors in 102 districts / cities with green zones.

The nine sectors are mining, petroleum, industry, construction, plantation, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, logistics and transportation of goods.

"The nine sectors are considered to have a low risk of the threat of COVID-19 but create wide employment opportunities and have a significant economic impact," Doni said in his written statement, Friday, June 5.

The consideration of opening the 9 economic sectors, said Doni, was taken by taking into account public health indicators based on epidemiological data, public health surveillance, and health services.

The opening of this economic sector will be preceded by education, socialization and simulation in stages. Doni emphasized that the relevant ministries will implement strict health protocols for the economic sector.

"The implementation protocol in each sector is made by the relevant ministries and institutions," he said.

Meanwhile, for monitoring and evaluation, Doni said, it was not only carried out by related ministries and institutions, but also with the assistance of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, as well as the community.

Doni emphasized that when a new COVID-19 case was found in its implementation, the Task Force could provide additional recommendations for closing economic sector activities to the relevant ministries.

As a precautionary measure, companies and economic sectors that have been opened must take teags when there is a potential for virus transmission to the community in the area.

"Companies and the management of the sector's area are obliged to carry out massive testing, aggressive tracing, and strict isolation in the distribution cluster from the area," he said.

The opening of these 9 economic sectors can only be done in districts / cities in the green zone. Because, Doni considered, the green zone was safe from the spread of COVID-19 because there were no positive cases. He said this policy has received a positive response from regional heads.

"The policy has been well responded to by regional leaders in 102 regencies and cities," he said, saying that regional leaders were making preparations and building communication with communities in their regions.

The opening of these 9 economic sectors, said Doni, could make people productive again. Therefore it must be done in a planned manner by carrying out a number of stages. This includes determining the right timing, prioritized sectors, tight coordination between central and local governments, and monitoring and evaluation.

Epidemiologist from Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, assessed that the mention of green zones is not quite right. Because, the spread of the corona virus is still ongoing.

"In my opinion, this is not right in the current situation, where our one wave is not yet at the peak," Dicky told reporters, Friday, June 5.

Under these conditions, Dicky revealed, it was difficult to find an area that was free from corona. This is because every region has the potential to be exposed to COVID-19 because of human mobility.

"The zone can still be applied to the green zone. The zoning is appropriate from green to dark red in a crisis situation," he said.

"But if the green zone is then considered a free area it is not quite right. Controlled more precisely," he added.

He also considered that the determination of an area to be a corona-free area was not an easy matter. Because, there must be a massive testing effort carried out. The results of this test are the basis for an area free of the spread of this virus.

He said, claiming to be free of COVID-19 was dangerous for the community. "This free claim should be one thing that is avoided because it has the potential for people to neglect prevention, people feel safe, even though it is pseudo safe," said Dicky.

According to other countries, to date, no country claims their territory is free from the spread of COVID-19. Instead of saying they are free, most countries say that they have been able to control the spread of the virus.

"So controlling, being controlled, controlling is a more fitting sentence. Because under control, in control there are requirements in which the government and society continue to carry out a normal pattern of preventing and supporting prevention strategies," he said.

"Even though no developed country dares to claim, like New Zealand, he said, 'New Zealand has succeeded in controlling. We succses full control and contain the virus'," he concluded.