Doni Monardo: COVID-19 Is Like An Angel That Took Lives For Vulnerable Groups

Doni Monardo (DOK. Diah Ayu W / VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo likened COVID-19 to an angel of life for vulnerable groups.

The vulnerable groups that Doni meant were the elderly (elderly) and those with comorbidities (comorbid). If they catch COVID-19, the symptoms will get worse.

"COVID-19 is like an angel of life for vulnerable groups, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and lung disease," Doni said in an online press conference, Friday, September 18.

Therefore, Doni asked all employees who have comorbidities to work from home and not go to the office.

"All leaders from the central to regional levels have instructed employees who have comorbidities not to work in the office. Do not leave the house, but only carry out office activities from home," said Doni.

He said that if all people with comorbidities worked from home, it would be able to save about 85 percent of the people who are currently the most victims, especially hypertension and diabetes.

"Now this is our joint program to invite the public to understand that COVID-19 is real, not an invention, not a conspiracy," said Doni.

Doni said the central government paid special attention to the five provinces to change behavior by better complying with health protocols.

The provinces are DKI Jakarta, East Java, Central Java, West Java and South Kalimantan. Doni said, cases in the province continued to increase because many people did not feel that they could have contracted COVID-19.

"30 percent of DKI Jakarta residents, 29 percent of East Java residents, 18 percent of Central Java residents, 16 percent of West Java residents, and 14 percent of South Kalimantan residents still feel confident that they will not get COVID-19," he added.