Jokowi's Strategy To Prevent Homecoming So That COVID-19 Does Not Spread To The Regions

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo stated that the homecoming movement had occurred for some time. In fact, the mobility of people with large numbers during the corona virus pandemic or COVID-19 is very risky. Those who do homecoming the most are informal workers who work in the Jabodetabek area.

The movement of the homecoming of informal workers, said Jokowi, occurred after DKI Jakarta established an emergency response status. Most of those who went home at the beginning made their way to West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java Provinces.

"Over the past eight days, there have been 876 inter-provincial bus fleets carrying approximately 14 thousand passengers from Jabodetabek to West Java, Central Java, East Java and Yogyakarta," said Jokowi in his presentation before chairing a limited meeting, Monday, March 30.

He added that this figure has not been added to those who use other mass transportation such as trains, ships, air transport and those who use private vehicles.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta said that these informal workers were forced to return home because their income had dropped dramatically since the enactment of the policy of studying, working and worshiping from home.

Therefore, Jokowi asked his staff to immediately accelerate social programs in the form of social safety nets or incentive programs that provide social protection for informal workers.

"So that all of the informal workers as hawkers can meet their basic daily needs," he said.

In addition, Jokowi ordered his ranks to take decisive steps to prevent people from going home during Eid.

"For the sake of mutual safety, I also ask for stricter steps to be taken to prevent the movement of people to the regions," he said.

Although currently there have been calls from regional heads and community leaders to migrants not to go home, Jokowi believes that this is not enough. Because, the most important thing at this time is to cut the spread of the virus by doing pysichal distancing.

Meanwhile, for residents who have already gone home, Jokowi reminded regional heads to monitor their movements. However, this supervision must be carried out carefully and do not give the impression of being excessive in its implementation.

"Implement good health protocols so as to ensure that the health of the meudik really gives safety to residents in the village," he said.

After the meeting, Presidential Spokesperson Fadjroel Rachman asked all parties to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by not moving to other areas. In fact, to anticipate this the government will issue a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) and a Presidential Instruction (Inpres).

"The government has prepared a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) and a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) as the legal basis for regulating the Eid Al-Fitr 1441 Hijriyah homecoming to prevent the spread of COVID-19," said Fadjroel in his written statement.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jodi Mahardi, said that from this meeting President Jokowi asked for a study related to economic mitigation for affected communities, especially for workers in the informal sector.

"Especially how the readiness of the social safety net that will be provided. The study is expected to be completed in two days and the President will decide," said Jodi.