Be Careful, Forcing Homecoming Can Lead To A Spike In New Cases

ILLUSTRATION / BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The ban on going home is considered appropriate from a health point of view in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, activities that are a tradition of every Eid Al-Fitr are considered to be able to cause a spike in positive cases in the community.

Professor of the Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia (UI) Hasbullah Thabrani, reminded that a potential spike in COVID-19 cases can occur if there is mobility. Because this virus transmission occurs between humans at close range and not through intermediaries such as bird flu.

"So, the best solution is to make the distance or contact between people as little as possible. Well, going home has the potential to create crowds both during the trip and in the hometown," Hasbullah said as quoted from a written statement by KPCPEN, Thursday, April 15.

The cause of transmission when it occurs when people gather to stay in touch. Most people, he said, often forget to keep their distance or apply health protocols when doing these activities.

"So if this is not controlled, it will lead to new cases," he said.

Hasbullah said that the community does not need to force homecoming in the midst of a pandemic. Moreover, currently technology can be an alternative to make friendship. "It can be done by telephone or video call at any time," he said.

Hasbullah also spoke about the opinion that going home could move the regional economy in the midst of a pandemic. According to him, apart from returning to his hometown to celebrate Eid, there are other ways that can be done.

One of them is diverting the cost of going home, which is not small in value, to be invested in the region, such as buying land. In addition, the cost of going home can also be donated to help orphanages or other educational institutions.

"So the homecoming fee can be used for more productive things," said Hasbullah.

If you also want to give money to relatives in your hometown, people today can take advantage of banking services. "So, the money can still be spent in the hometown and the economy in the regions continues without having to go home," he explained.

On the other hand, if there is a spike in new cases because forcing homecoming, it will actually cause the government to tighten it again. This in turn makes the economy even more immobile.

"So that in the long term, if the homecoming is not prohibited, the impact of economic growth will be even greater. Because the increase in new cases will cause new fear reactions. The economy will also slow down," he concluded.