UGM Public Policy Specialist, Prof. Dr. Erwan Agus Purwanto, said Indonesia must promptly learn in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak in the country that has infected thousands of people and caused hundreds of deaths.
"In this condition, the government needs to be a fast learner," he said when contacted on Friday (10/4).
He said the COVID-19 pandemic was a new form of disaster. There has been no precedent for dealing with this crisis before.
Even so, the government can learn from several countries that are considered auspicious in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, such as taking or adopting ways of handling the Coronavirus by Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.
"There is a kind of best practice from countries that are considered successful in dealing with the Coronavirus," said the Professor of FISIPOL UGM.
According to him, the Indonesian government had a delay in responding to COVID-19. The government should be able to immediately learn from previous corona cases such as SARS or MERS or other countries. There was a time lag since the first case appeared in Wuhan at the end of December 2019 until the first case in the country in March 2020, which could be used to anticipate the COVID-19 outbreak before entering Indonesia.
Nevertheless, Erwan assessed that the government had shown its seriousness in handling the COVID-19 outbreak. Various policies and regulations were issued to prevent wider dissemination.
"The government has seen increased efforts to deal with this pandemic. Finally issued Perpu No. 1 of 2020 with a variety of derivative policies including the wider Large Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB),” he explained.
Besides, the government's commitment can also be seen from the allocation of health budget funds to meet the needs of PPE, reagents, ventilators, procurement of large-scale test kits, and other health equipment. Also, efforts to establish social safety networks for community groups that do not have a regular income. Other attempts were also made to help the business sector with fiscal policy and national economic recovery.
"The commitment of the government in handling COVID-19 is getting more serious about preventing the spread of the virus from becoming bigger," he said.
Erwan further alluded to the policy of not banning going home but urged the public not to travel to their hometown by the government. The determined policy looks half-hearted, but according to him, there is a kind of policy aimed at saving two things at once.
On the one hand, the government wants to save its citizens from the COVID-19 outbreak. However, on the other hand, the government also wants to keep the people's economy.
"If the lockdown implications are extraordinary, the economy could collapse. Therefore, the government provides a corridor on how to stay safe with social restrictions, but it still provides space for the community," Erwan explained.
Author: Ika
Translator: Natasa A
UGM Public Policy Specialist Suggests the Government Should Promptly Learn Handling COVID-19
UGM Public Policy Specialist, Prof. Dr. Erwan Agus Purwanto, said Indonesia must promptly learn in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak in the country that has infected thousands of people and caused hundreds of deaths.
"In this condition, the government needs to be a fast learner," he said when contacted on Friday (10/4).
He said the COVID-19 pandemic was a new form of disaster. There has been no precedent for dealing with this crisis before.
Even so, the government can learn from several countries that are considered auspicious in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, such as taking or adopting ways of handling the Coronavirus by Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.
"There is a kind of best practice from countries that are considered successful in dealing with the Coronavirus," said the Professor of FISIPOL UGM.
According to him, the Indonesian government had a delay in responding to COVID-19. The government should be able to immediately learn from previous corona cases such as SARS or MERS or other countries. There was a time lag since the first case appeared in Wuhan at the end of December 2019 until the first case in the country in March 2020, which could be used to anticipate the COVID-19 outbreak before entering Indonesia.
Nevertheless, Erwan assessed that the government had shown its seriousness in handling the COVID-19 outbreak. Various policies and regulations were issued to prevent wider dissemination.
"The government has seen increased efforts to deal with this pandemic. Finally issued Perpu No. 1 of 2020 with a variety of derivative policies including the wider Large Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB),” he explained.
Besides, the government's commitment can also be seen from the allocation of health budget funds to meet the needs of PPE, reagents, ventilators, procurement of large-scale test kits, and other health equipment. Also, efforts to establish social safety networks for community groups that do not have a regular income. Other attempts were also made to help the business sector with fiscal policy and national economic recovery.
"The commitment of the government in handling COVID-19 is getting more serious about preventing the spread of the virus from becoming bigger," he said.
Erwan further alluded to the policy of not banning going home but urged the public not to travel to their hometown by the government. The determined policy looks half-hearted, but according to him, there is a kind of policy aimed at saving two things at once.
On the one hand, the government wants to save its citizens from the COVID-19 outbreak. However, on the other hand, the government also wants to keep the people's economy.
"If the lockdown implications are extraordinary, the economy could collapse. Therefore, the government provides a corridor on how to stay safe with social restrictions, but it still provides space for the community," Erwan explained.
Author: Ika
Translator: Natasa A