Jokowi: Do Not Let There Be A Second Wave Of COVID-19

President Joko Widodo while chairing a closed meeting (Photo: Secretariat of the Indonesian Cabinet)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo reminded that the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 was not complacent with the reduction in positive cases in a number of areas. He also said that the Task Force and all regional stakeholders must prevent the second wave of COVID-19 transmission in Indonesia.

"I need to remind you not to have a second wave, a second wave. There should not be a surge," said Jokowi while visiting the Task Force headquarters at the BNPB Office, East Jakarta, Wednesday, June 10.

He added that this team has a big task because the threat of COVID-19 is still dynamic, especially since a vaccine against this virus has not been found. Even if a vaccine has been found, it cannot be used immediately. Because, it needs clinical trials and field trials first. This process also takes a long time.

"Therefore we must adapt to COVID. Adapt new habits," he said.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta reminded him that adapting to this virus does not mean losing. Instead, all parties must start new habits according to health protocols. So, people can be productive immediately but avoid the dangers of the outbreak of COVID-19.

The new normal phase must remain cautious

Jokowi also reminded that the implementation of the new normal phase must still refer to data and facts in the field.

He added that the new normality phase which will be implemented in a number of areas has used a complete scientific-based indicator and is in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

Even so, he reminded, the application of this new normality must still be careful. "Do not let any mistakes we decide that there will be an increase in cases in an area because of the stages we did not do well," he said.

Previously, Wiku Adisasmito, Chair of the Expert Team for the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, stated that there were several steps that had to be taken during the new normal phase towards a safe and productive society.

"There are steps that need to be taken by local governments towards a safe and productive community for COVID-19," Wiku said in a press conference at the Media Center for the National Task Force, Jakarta, Monday, June 8.

The first is the precondition stage. At this early stage, local governments precondition by providing information that is holistic, clear and easily understood by the community. This information includes the prevention and handling of COVID-19. Various parties can convey information through socialization and effective public communication.

The second is the timing stage. Namely, determining the time when an area can start socio-economic activation by taking into account epidemiological data, level of compliance with health protocols, readiness of organization and management in the region, and ensuring the readiness of health service facilities.

The third is the priority stage. This stage is carried out to select regions or sectors where socio-economic activities can be restored gradually by conducting simulations so that these activities can be sustainable.

The fourth is the central and regional coordination stage. This stage is important, because of the need for mutual consultation between the central government and local governments that are synergistic in decision making.

The fifth is the monitoring and evaluation stage. The stages of supervision, control, and evaluation of the implementation of the recovery of socio-economic activities.

"We want to convey, regarding the monitoring and evaluation of regional risk maps. For example, for green zone or unaffected areas, we carry out monitoring and evaluation for unaffected districts. The data change from 102 regencies-cities to 92 regencies-cities is not affected, ”said Wiku.

Furthermore, this data change occurs based on the evaluation of public health indicators. "We will deliver the results of monitoring and evaluation of zoning on a weekly basis every Monday," he concluded.