New Normal in Indonesia

New Normal In Indonesia In The Middle Of The Pandemic And Risen Cases

As Indonesia braces to gradually reopen the economy, the government has announced that the country's regions should meet two main conditions to be able to ease COVID-19 mobility restrictions and start welcoming the so-called "new normal".

Currently, the governments do various preparations to start the “new-normal” era even though several indicators said that Indonesia is not ready to enter this phase. President Jokowi has expressed his desire for Indonesia to immediately enter the “new-normal” era. President Jokowi said that the discipline to run the health protocol during a pandemic is a key to enter the “new-normal” era, therefore the government prepares and exerting the army forces to monitor and check people discipline in the public area. 

The government said that there are 3 indicators to apply “new-normal” era. First, infection level or Ro( reproductive number) should be below 1 for the 2 weeks consecutive. Currently, the Ro still at 2.5, it means 1 person can transmit to 2 or 3 people. Second, hospital bed and emergency room capacities for Covid-19 patients must be greater than the number of new cases that required treatment at the hospital. Third, the test at least should reach 3.500 tests per 1 million people in one area. But now the number of the test is still low, 743 people per 1 million people in one area. Which is too far to reach 3.500 people per 1 million people. With the capacities that have steadily risen up to 10-12 thousand test per day its take one month to reach 1.800 test per 1 million national population. Chief Minister of Bappenas, Mr Suharso Monoarfa said it will be one province or area at the mainland to be a pilot are to run the “new normal” era, he said DKI Jakarta has met the indicators and can start this phase (new normal era). 

Meanwhile, regions categorized as "green zones" -- namely those that have recorded COVID-19 cases but have been seeing a declining rate of virus transmission -- in accordance with the World Health Organization's (WHO) indicators will be considered to reopen, COVID-19 task force chief Doni Monardo said.

Among the indicators is that regions should see a 50 percent decline in the number of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases for more than two weeks as well as a significant decline in COVID-19 fatalities.

A declining number of COVID-19 patients and suspected cases in hospitals will also determine whether a region is allowed to reopen its economy.

Previously, several provincial administrations reportedly prepared to reopen businesses in the regions. On the resort island of Bali, for instance, hotels have been drafting guidelines for health protocols under the so-called "new normal" situation as the local government signaled to reopen tourist destinations gradually.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has also announced that the province should brace for a "new normal" starting on June 1, tribunnews.com reported on Wednesday.

With regard to preparing the country for the new normal scheme, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto issued on Saturday a new health protocol for workplaces to ensure that businesses continue to run while maintaining efforts to contain the coronavirus.

Epidemiologists, however, have warned the government to be prudent in making the decision to reopen the economy, arguing that the country was continuing to see a rise in COVID-19 cases

Source: http://shorturl.at/fpBW7