Jakartans With The Highest Cases Are Less Worried About Omicron Transmission Than Other Areas, How Come?

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Political Indicators survey institute presented the latest poll results. As a result, Jakarta residents are least worried about the transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 compared to other areas.

This survey was conducted in the period from January 15 to February 17 2022 to respondents who are Indonesian citizens who are 17 years old or older, are married, and have internet access via a smartphone when the survey is conducted. The survey was conducted through random interviews via online questionnaires to 626 respondents. The margin of error for this survey is around 4 percent and the survey confidence level is 95 percent.

In detail, 38.4 percent of Jakarta residents said they were worried about the transmission of the Omicron variant, then 56 percent felt normal, and 5.6 percent said they were not worried about being exposed to Omicron.

Meanwhile, in other areas, more residents said they were worried about contracting Omicron. As many as 73.2 percent of Sumatrans are worried, 20.9 percent are normal, and 4.8 percent are worried.

Banten residents who are worried about the transmission of Omicron are 55.5 percent, 40.6 percent are normal, and 0 percent are worried. West Java residents who are worried about Omicron transmission are 65.7 percent, 31.8 percent are normal, and 2.5 percent are worried.

Central Java and DI Yogyakarta residents who are worried about Omicron transmission are 65.7 percent, 31.8 percent are normal, and 2.5 percent are worried. East Java residents who are worried about Omicron transmission are 62.5 percent, 28.6 percent are normal, and 6.1 percent are worried.

Residents of Bali and Nusa Tenggara who are worried about Omicron transmission are 71.1 percent, 26.1 percent are normal, and 2.8 percent are worried. Kalimantan residents who are worried about Omicron transmission are 72.5 percent, 27.5 percent are normal, and 0 percent are worried.

Sulawesi residents who are worried about Omicron transmission are 70.1 percent, 29.9 percent are normal, and 0 percent are worried. 80.3 percent of Moluccans and Papuans are worried about Omicron transmission, 12.1 percent are normal, and 7.4 percent are worried.

"From various socio-demographic categories, generally they are quite worried about contracting Omicron, except for DKI Jakarta residents who generally feel normal," said Senior Researcher for Political Indicators Rizka Halida in her survey presentation, Sunday, February 20.

How come? Rizka explained that there were three reasons. First, the ease of access to information in the capital city is the highest. Thus, many residents know that the characteristics of the Omicron variant are no more deadly than the Delta variant.

"Access to information for Jakarta residents is usually better than in other areas. From the information that has been released by both the scientific community and the government, it is easier to spread but the effect is not as deadly as the Delta variant. So this is one of the reasons why DKI residents are not so worried," said Rizka.

Second, access to more adequate health facilities or services in Jakarta is also a factor that citizens are not worried about the transmission of the virus.

"Residents feel quite secure, if they get infected, they can get good health treatment. Thus, this reduces residents' concerns," said Rizka.

Another factor is that the third or booster dose of vaccination in Jakarta is also the highest compared to other areas. It was recorded that as of February 19, booster vaccinations in Jakarta reached 1,123,825 people.

"Booster in the DKI area is also high compared to other areas. This also makes them feel safe, tends to be higher among residents of Jakarta compared to other areas," she explained.