Airlangga Silence When Positive COVID-19, Epidemiologist: How Do You Want To Give An Example To The Public?

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hatarto (Photo: Public Relations)

JAKARTA - Airlangga Hatarto became a byword after not being open about his health. Where the Coordinating Minister for the Economy is thought to have tested positive for COVID-19, but it was not open.

It is not clear when Airlangga was exposed to this virus. But suddenly the Golkar Party Chairman gave a convalescent plasma on Monday, January 18th. In fact, this plasma donor can only be done by COVID-19 survivors.

Seeing this condition, the epidemiologist from Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, regretted Airlangga's unfolding attitude.

As a public official, and Chairman of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN) Airlangga should convey his health condition from the start because this also provides an example to the community.

"If it is not open, how can we give an appeal? How can we give an example to the community if this disease is not a disease that must be labeled as negative, stigmatized. So this is the important role of public officials," said Dicky when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, January 20.

In addition to providing examples, publication of health conditions is a must for every public official. Because, they often meet or are met by many people in various activities.

"Compared to ordinary residents, public officials meet or meet more people. For example (met, ed) other officials, subordinates, the community when he visits here and there, that's what causes a lot of direct contact," he said.

"If it is not open, it means that the tracing will not be optimal or successful. Because the tracing should be open," added Dicky.

The closure of Airlangga when he was exposed to COVID-19 is also considered to be inconsistent with what President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) did, who recently opened up during close contact with one of the officials who came to the State Palace.

"At that time, Pak Jokowi had a chance to meet with positive officials, then he checked and the results were also announced negative. But what impact, the public knows and this becomes an example," he said.

In addition, Dicky assessed that many public officials had also conveyed their health conditions to the public, such as DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Bogor Mayor Bima Arya, to the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.

"So this is very unfortunate. The other exposed ones are also open. Many of them are open. Likewise, the President has exemplified good things and this should be followed by his ministers," he said.

Previously reported, Airlangga donated convalescent plasma to help accelerate the cure rate for COVID-19 patients. Even though from the beginning, there was never any news that he had been exposed to this virus.

"Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto had tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020. At that time, 3T (testing, tracing and treatment) had been implemented optimally," said Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs spokesperson Alia Karenina in her statement, Tuesday, January 19.

A convalescent plasma donor was carried out by Airlangga, as a form of gratitude for being declared cured of COVID-19. Airlangga hopes to help the process of handling COVID-19. "As a form of gratitude for being given health blessings, recovering from COVID-19, he donated convalescent plasma to help accelerate the recovery rate for other COVID-19 patients," he said.

Not only that, Airlangga also hopes that donors like what is done can be imitated by COVID-19 survivors. So that in the future, the percentage of recovery from COVID-19 will increase.

"He also hopes that more corona survivors will donate plasma in the future," concluded Alia.