Explaining 5 Steps By West Java Provincial Government To Handle COVID-19, Ridwan Kamil Shows Off Pikobar

Governor of West Java, Ridwan Kamil. (doc. West Java Provincial Govt.)

JABAR - The Governor of West Java, M. Ridwan Kamil, explained 5 steps taken by the West Java Provincial Government in dealing with the pandemic. Including reviving the economy that had collapsed.

"When the COVID-19 incident occurred, I thought about what spirit we should hold on to. So, these five things came out," said Ridwan Kamil, in his written statement, Friday 3 March, confiscated by Antara.

March 2023, exactly three years, Indonesia, including West Java, was in the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

After hitting the foundations of life, the COVID-19 pandemic is now under control. The Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery also appreciates the West Java Provincial Government's performance in this recovery.

The West Java Provincial Government's first innovation in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, said Ridwan Kamil, was Pikobar (West Java COVID-19 Information and Coordination Center).

According to him, Pikobar is here to overcome the confusion of information about COVID-19. "The first innovation is always communication. So I made Pikobar. I founded Pikobar because of dangerous confusion of information, confusion of news, ignorance, so I made it," he said.

"I learned, if the situation is chaotic, the key is the source of information. That's why I said, all West Java information comes from me. Not from me, it doesn't become a reference. From me, make it a reference. So, calm down the people because every day I update," continued Ridwan Kamil.

According to him, Pikobar is one of the instruments to resolve the dynamics in handling COVID-19.

In addition to updating data on handling COVID-19, Pikobar is a gateway and communication tool for the government and the community both in distributing social assistance, collecting data on oxygen needs, and sending vitamins and medicines to people who are undergoing self-isolation.

The existence of Pikobar, said Kang Emil, could control the dynamics in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I used to imagine that Pikobar was only for updating data. At the end of the process, 25 features. From updating data, people ask for hospital locations, people first ask where rapid tests are, registration, to the end of social assistance, grants, for business economic impact," he said.

"In my opinion, the decision is correct. Because we have Pikobar, there are not many uncontrolled dynamics because everything is arranged in one," he continued.

Learn from the pandemic

In addition, the Governor of West Java stated that the current pandemic was very under control. West Java's economy continues to improve, and development begins to run optimally.

"Today is the level of economic normalization," he said.

During three years of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Ridwan Kamil learned many lessons.

First, he is ready to face crises such as a pandemic because he has gained knowledge and a scheme for handling them, and the second lesson, namely togetherness.

According to him, togetherness is the key to success in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

All parties, from the government, military, police, to the community are working together to handle COVID-19 in their respective roles.

"Covid cannot be finished if you rely on yourself. In what part of the world there are the TNI, Polri, and BIN taking vaccines? Only in Indonesia. We are great at taking care of COVID, which are considered the best five because all elements step in," he said.

The pandemic situation which continues to improve and is under control makes Ridwan Kamil optimistic about welcoming 2023. He also advised the public to respond to this situation by maintaining conduciveness, especially ahead of the democratic party.

"We face 2023 with optimism, by obeying the rules, togetherness, and reducing the potential for disputes," he emphasized.