Crowds In NTT Proof Of Community Movements It's Hard To Stop PPKM

The event was attended by the Governor of NTT VIctor Laiskodat (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - We are all aware that the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) is still underway. Even though in some areas the PPKM level has relaxed, it does not mean that we can be careless so that we ignore health protocols. But what can you do, the length of the PPKM's validity period seems to no longer be able to stem the movement of the community.

The polemic in East Nusa Tenggara is the proof. On Friday, August 27, 2021, there will be an Inauguration of the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team (TPAKD) on Semau Island, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). There, both ordinary people and their leaders seem to no longer heed the rules against crowding.

The inauguration of the TPKAD was attended by high-ranking NTT officials such as NTT Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat, and even almost all regional heads such as regents and mayors throughout NTT. The crowd captured in a video went viral.

Crowd of Regional Heads Meeting in NTT Province pic.twitter.com/ybKGsSroo3

— RumahAsara™ (@didienAZHAR) August 28, 2021

In the video and photos, it can be seen that not all of the people present were wearing masks. Not only that, the event which was filled with music performances also invited a crowd. Of course, this is a violation of health protocols.

This event in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic invites various comments. Religious leader in Kupang, Reverend Emi Sahertian, said the crowd was a bad example for society. It's a pity that the church is trying to maintain health protocols just to worship. However, the government itself violated these regulations.

"But on the other hand, government actors violated the regulation by holding activities that caused crowds," said Emi Sahertian, quoted by Antara. "Emergency rules to prevent transmission and save many people's lives, if violated this is the class of criminal acts," he added.

Districts and Cities in NTT Province are currently at levels 3 and 4 of PPKM. According to a report on Sunday, August 29, 2021, positive cases of COVID-19 in NTT reached 59,038. A total of 54,024 people managed to recover and 1,157 people died. It can be seen that NTT is not free from COVID-19 and officials who are responsible for creating a conducive atmosphere should not violate health protocols.

Crowd ramps cases on the rise

Currently, the trend of COVID-19 cases and deaths is indeed declining. According to the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), the number of COVID-19 cases continued to decline during the implementation of PPKM.

Even as of August 28, 2021, there were 20 provinces that experienced a decrease in COVID-19 cases. The death rate from COVID-19 was also reported to have decreased by 3.2 percent. Since August 23-28, the death toll from COVID-19 has continued to fall below 1,000 cases per day.

As the trend of COVID-19 cases decreases, many people are starting to take vacations. This can be seen with the traffic conditions that snaked in the Puncak area, Bogor, last weekend.

This raises the option of implementing restrictions on cars and motorcycles through an odd-even vehicle number scheme. Because the crowds that occur around tourist sites occur when the relevant area is still under PPKM level 3, which is not allowed to have mass gatherings.

Citing Kompas, Bogor Police Chief AKBP Harun did not deny that the increase in vehicle volume in the southern region of Bogor Regency occurred after the PPKM status of Bogor Regency decreased from level 4 to level 3. reached 30-40 percent compared to when PPKM Level 4.

Illustration (Unsplash/Mufid Majnun)

Unstoppable bored

Since March 2020, people's movements have been very limited. Not only can not vacation freely, even people can not make a living. Feeling tired due to the difficulty of doing activities plus the stress that hit due to reduced income, it is not surprising that people entertain themselves as much as possible. On the other hand, online events may not run smoothly, such as bad internet signal problems and others.

VOI interviewed the sociologist at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta, Tantan Hermansyah, to assess what society is actually feeling today. Tantan argues, there's actually nothing wrong with people on vacation or looking for entertainment. In fact, since the pandemic, the ban on entertainment and holidays has been inappropriate.

"Imagine, people staying at home too long are also dangerous. On a micro level, boredom will lower a person's immunity. Not even a few are then provoked by their emotions," said Tantan.

Tantan also explained that entertainment is part of the building blocks of human civilization. Humans with entertainment do not have to be called hedonists.

"Is it true that going to entertainment places risks health? So if you stay at home your health will also be guaranteed? Not really. Because even at home, humans still interact with many people outside their homes," said Tantan.

Because taking vacations and getting entertainment is part of the treatment to increase immunity and health. Perhaps, what is currently being paid attention to is strict health protocols. For example, rules for restricting visitors, healthy ways to visit, and so on are made.

On the other hand, rules like this can also be applied to activities organized by officials. If you can't cancel the event, maybe the event can be limited in participants and required to wear a mask or better yet, be held online. People are fed up with the existing conditions. It's good that each party understands and respects the existing rules.

*Read other information about the HEALTH PROTOCOL or other interesting articles from Ramdan Febrian Arifin.

Other BERNAS