Large Efforts Needed To Prevent The Risk Of Transmission Of The COVID-19 Virus In KRL

Mangggarai station photo (Irvan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Since the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has been trying hard to prevent cases of transmission of the virus in the capital. The provincial government has also mapped a number of locations that are considered to be at high risk of being contaminated with the corona virus, one of which is the Electric Rail Train (KRL) public transportation.

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan also does not deny that the mode of transportation has a high risk of transmitting the corona virus. Therefore, Anies is preparing a number of mitigation measures aimed at building community awareness.

"So what was conveyed (the closed meeting presentation) was not that there are currently cases, no. But that currently we have potential risks, one of which is transportation, but also other aspects," said Anies at City Hall, Wednesday, March 11

The statement of the high risk of corona transmission in the KRL with the Bogor-Depok-Jakarta City route, said Anies, was compiled from data on the distribution of people under monitoring, patient data under surveillance, then a mapping of locations with high potential was formed.

However, now is not the time to regret the location, especially public facilities, which have a high risk of spreading the virus that is currently endemic throughout the world. That is, all parties are haunted by fear when traveling outside the house.

"The point is, why did the entire ranks gather, both the OPD heads and the BUMD leaders, to convey all the potential risks so that the ranks could take mitigation steps," he said.

Separately, Public Relations of PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI), Anne Purba, confirmed that KRL has a high potential for the spread of the corona virus. Especially for the users of the Bogor / Depok route to Jakarta Kota / Angke / Jatinegara who transported 546,420 users or 69 percent of all KRL users per day.

However, said Anne, of course there are preventive efforts made by KCI. Since February 3, 2020, KCI has carried out various educational efforts to prevent the spread of the corona virus.

"Until now, KCI has provided education on proper hand washing, and distributed masks to users in 36 stations," said Anne when confirmed by VOI.

#RekanCommuters PT KCI routinely takes preventive actions for KRL users regarding the start of the Corona Virus outbreak. Then we started distributing handsanitizers to 80 KRL stations, and providing masks for KRL users who were sick and the elderly. | 1 pic.twitter.com/7yFBXjdAsn

- Commuter Line Info (@CommuterLine) March 3, 2020

Then, KCI provided more than 700 bottles of hand sanitizer for 88 train series and 80 stations. They also routinely clean the entire train after operation using a disinfectant-containing cleaning fluid.

"We participate in health posts at 30 KRL stations that can provide first aid if users experience health problems. In this post, users can also measure body temperature, get masks, and medicines. If it cannot be treated, health workers will refer users to the nearest hospital, "he said.

Of course, efforts to prevent virus infection from China also need to be carried out by the public and users of public transportation themselves. To KRL passengers, KCI urges not to spit carelessly at stations or trains, use a mask when they are sick, have a cough, runny nose, or are in the recovery period.

"We urge passengers to maintain cleanliness, among others, wash their hands properly, and go to a health post if they feel unwell," he concluded.