KSP: The Government Has Regulations To Handle COVID-19 But It's Useless If People Don't Support It

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JAKARTA - Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Ade Irfan Pulungan asked the public not only to demand the government improve efforts to handle COVID-19.

According to him, the community must take part in efforts to handle this pandemic, including complying with the Implementation of Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) that have been set by the government.

"Controlling (COVID-19, ed) cannot be unilateral. The government has the infrastructure, the government has the regulations, the government has the guidelines, the method, but if our society, the people, does not support that method, it's useless, there is no balance," said Ade Irfan told reporters quoted Thursday, July 8.

"Our society is undisciplined, disobedient, and does not feel this epidemic is a serious matter, it's difficult," he added.

He did not deny that there are indeed a number of countries that have now successfully handled the pandemic. But, Ade assessed, the country is supported by a disciplined society and has awareness of the dangers of COVID-19.

Meanwhile in Indonesia, the situation is reversed. He said many people do not follow the rules that have been set.

Ade gave an example that there are still many people who insist on going back to their hometowns during the Idul Fitri 1442 Hijriyah holiday. In fact, at that time the government imposed a barrier so that they did not go home in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

So is the case with vaccinations. He said the government had been trying to implement a vaccination program to achieve herd immunity or communal immunity.

But what happened, there were still many people who refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine even though they had the opportunity. "There are still those who are nagging, there are those who don't believe it, there are still those who (don't want the vaccine, ed) for various reasons," he said.

He understands that this cannot be forced, especially in a repressive manner. However, he asked the public and all parties to help the government defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is a collaboration that can't be done if it's just an instruction from the president, we issue this, and there have been orders like this, but people are still nagging. If this is the case, it's difficult," he said.

"Everyone must work hand in hand, work together," concluded Ade.