Positive COVID-19 Continues To Increase, The Government Must Immediately Issue A Regional Quarantine Policy

The atmosphere of the city of Jakarta in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - The government has not yet made a decision regarding the COVID-19 outbreak which continues to spread and infect many people. However, many parties have encouraged the government to take steps to close access in and out of the Jakarta area which is the largest contributor to positive COVID-19 cases.

Public Policy Observer Agus Pambagio has been one of the most resolute parties to urge the government to immediately close access to DKI Jakarta. According to him, the government has taken decisions for a long time, resulting in an increasingly massive spread of the virus.

"Yes, it must be done, but now, if the regulation closes or not, it is the task force's decision," said Agus to VOI, Saturday, March 28.

The closure of regional access or quarantine can be done by stopping all means of public transportation such as at ports and airports. So, the spread of COVID-19 will be handled quickly.

"I have said that from January there were several areas that should have closed access, Bali, Manado, including Jakarta," said Agus.

In addition, the government's consideration of the cost of covering all the needs of the community so as not to issue a policy, according to Agus, is something that can actually be resolved. Some of the ways, namely, prioritizing the small community who immediately felt the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

"If it is expensive, yes it is expensive, but Indonesia is able to finance the poor or those in need. For those who are sufficient, access to a few things will be made easier," said Agus.

Then, some budgets that are not too important at this time, such as moving the capital city and transportation development, should be reallocated for the community. In this case, the government must prioritize the interests of the community.

"It can relocate and other things, for example the fund for moving the capital city or for transportation development. It can be used first to handle this," said Agus.

Previously, President Joko Widodo emphasized that there was no lockdown or isolation policy at the national or regional levels to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

According to Jokowi, the government is currently taking a policy to carry out physical distancing or maintain a distance and continue to work, study and worship from home. In addition, Jokowi has also warned that the lockdown or isolation policy will be taken directly by the central government.

Social distancing illustration. (Ilham Amin / VOI)

However, according to Member of Commission VII DPR RI Rofik Hananto, the regional quarantine policy is a step worth considering in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 which has the potential to occur, among others, due to the presence of residents who go home such as from the DKI Jakarta area.

In his written statement, Rofik Hananto reminded that the corona virus has the potential to be carried by travelers returning to their hometowns.

"This is truly terrible, areas where previously no positive cases were found, positive cases are now starting to be found and the number is increasing every day," he said.

According to him, if it turns out that the attitude taken is slow and inappropriate, then there is a concern that this condition will worsen in the future and will be even more difficult to control.

The Prosperous Justice Party politician reminded that currently medical personnel are overwhelmed with handling corona patients, especially because they are not balanced with adequate equipment. This made things even worse.

For this reason, Rofik asked the government to immediately consider a regional quarantine measure.

Continue to Increase

The number of positive cases of corona virus or COVID-19 patients in Indonesia is increasing. Government spokesman in handling the Corona virus or COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto (Yuri) said, there were 153 new cases of corona positive patients, as of Friday, March 27. In total, there are 1,046 people who have tested positive for the virus.

"Update of cases starting from March 26 yesterday to today (Friday) at 12.00 WIB, we got the addition of 153 new cases," said Yuri at Graha BNPB, Jakarta, Friday, March 27.

On the other hand, the addition of cured cases has also increased. As of today, 11 people have been declared cured of COVID-19. Furthermore, for cases of death increased by 9 people. Thus, the overall death rate is 87 people.

"Then there were 46 who recovered accumulatively. And there were 87 who died during the accumulative data," explained Achmad Yurianto.

Regarding the current development of COVID-19, he said, from day to day we see a significant increase in cases. This indicates that the transmission process is still ongoing, continuously in our society.

"This we mean that there are still positive cases of COVID-19 that are still in our midst. Then the second means that there is too frequent close contact that occurs so that transmission occurs. days, "explained Achmad Yurianto.