Vice President: People Must Be Convinced In Facing COVID-19, Religion Does Not Teach Despair

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (Photo: Vice President Press Bureau)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin asked the public to remain optimistic about facing the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vice President reminded that religion never teaches us to give up in facing a problem.

"There should be no pessimism (facing COVID-19). There should be no despair. In religion we should not give up and continue to be optimistic. We as a nation of warriors must have the spirit to overcome, the spirit to rise and unite for a healthier Indonesia," said Ma ' ruf at an event broadcast on YouTube, Sunday, May 24.

Optimism, he continued, must be owned by all people. Moreover, until now, the government has made every effort to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He then mentioned a number of ways that have been done, including carrying out massive aggressive tests of more than 5,000 samples per day and improving health services, isolation, and treatment.

"We can see that the more patients who recover, the less who die," he said.

The former PBNU Rais Aam also claims the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in a number of areas have also shown results. This, he said, was proven by the existence of a number of areas where the reproductive rate was below one. However, Ma'ruf did not mention which areas he meant.

Furthermore, the vice president claimed that the government had succeeded in dealing with the social and economic impacts of this pandemic. "(Handling) the economy through social assistance, cash assistance so that it is hoped that the COVID-19 will continue to decline, the economy can improve," he said.

Regarding the Eid Al-Fitr this year, Ma'ruf admitted that this year the atmosphere was different from the previous year.

If in the previous year, people could be free to have fun, this year the community had to adjust because of the dangerous conditions in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and this is also taught in religion.

The Vice President also reminded that positive things during this pandemic can be continued until the pandemic ends. Apart from maintaining health and maintaining distance, also increasing digital activities in the midst of situations like this.

"Communicating via digital, we just continue and the frequency is increased. We can access various knowledge, many courses digitally online, also market products online. This kind of digitalization life is getting better," he concluded.