Asked When COVID-19 Curve Landed, Wiku: Depends On Society

Chairman of the Expert Team for the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito (Photo: BNPB documentation)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, Wiku Adisasmito, said that the curve of the transmission of COVID-19 depends on the Indonesian people. According to him, if there is no change in behavior in the community, then the sloping curve will not occur.

"When is the curve sloping? Actually, when is the ramp that drives us ourselves. If we change our behavior, the longer, the more cases that change, the more the case will decrease," said Wiku in a webinar themed 'Adaptation to New Habits', Wednesday, June 17.

However, Wiku considered, society did not change its behavior. This was proven, after Jakarta implemented large-scale transitional social restrictions (PSBB), in fact many people gathered. This factor is what makes the number of COVID-19 transmission continues to increase.

"Even after the outbreak of COVID-19, people have to start changing their habits. We can't do that anymore, because the virus has already entered there," he said.

"So, as long as we have a new normal or adapt to new habits, then we can carry out socio-economic activities," he added.

Wiku said, this discipline should be started as soon as possible by the community. If necessary, right now. Moreover, Indonesia is an adaptive nation, so its society is very easy to change according to the circumstances around it.

Deny applying herd immunity in the midst of new norms

Wiku denied that the government had implemented herd immunity. He asked the public to first understand what the term means.

He explained that herd immunity is immunity that occurs in a population group due to active transmission of the virus. As a result, individual immunity is formed which continues to collective immunity.

"When did that happen, if there was active transmission. If the government says you have to keep your distance, wear a mask, wash your hands, and so on, how do you get infected. So will herd immunity occur? Yes, it won't," he explained.

According to him, the formation of herd immunity will take a long time, up to years and decades. In addition, if herd immunity is to occur, the government will certainly not issue a number of health protocols to prevent the transmission of this virus.

Because, the more people who are infected, the more people will have immunity to a virus, including COVID-19.

"So, don't crash it. So understand the science, understand the condition, and ourselves. Thus we know exactly what is meant by herd immunity," he concluded.