The implementation of the Limited Tightening of Community Activities (PTKM) Policy in DIY will take effect from Monday, January 11 to January 25 in order to control Covid-19 transmission.
Several regulations are applied as part of this policy, including the office activities limitation by implementing the "work from home" policy by 75 percent. There is also online teaching and learning activities implementation and the limitation of shopping centers' operating hours.
dr. Yuniantika, as the medical staff of Gadjah Mada Medical Center, revealed that control efforts through PTKM could be successful if the community actively obeys the policy and minimizes activities outside.
"Do not let people take the WfH opportunity implementation to go outside the home for vacation instead. This condition that makes this policy somehow ends up being misled. If there are such cases, we won't achieve the goal from this policy," she said in the UGM Update talk session, which was broadcast through UGM social media channels on Tuesday (12/1).
She also explained that even though community awareness regarding health protocols had improved so far, a few people were still apathetic to the recommendations disseminated so far.
She added many people still did not acknowledge the pandemic as something serious until their colleagues or closest people, also themselves, were infected with Covid-19.
"When it comes to the closest person, then awareness within themselves appears immediately, but if they haven't seen or felt how Covid-19 infection feels, they still tend to be just ignorant," she said.
She also said there were several hot spots for the transmission of Covid-19 in living areas such as dormitories, office environments, or family environments.
Family activities involving huge numbers of people, especially those who do not dwell in the same house, can become a cluster of Covid-19 transmission without sufficiently implementing health protocols.
"When you are with your family, you might feel safe. You won't be likely infected with Covid-19 because you frequently meet. However, unconsciously, Covid-19 transmission might occur there," explained Yuni.
Yuni also revealed this phenomenon among the millennial generation, in which this generation can get more information about Covid-19, sometimes ignoring health advice to meet eminent social needs.
"They indeed clearly understand, but because of social needs, it will be very tough to restrict them from gathering and participating in outdoor events. Furthermore, they have already been at a saturation point after studying or working from home for a long time," she added.
She also reminded the public that stepping to a new normal does not mean people can loosely carry out normal activities like pra-pandemic situations only as long as they use masks and wash their hands.
Although the policies cannot accommodate all parties' desires, all parties should seriously take the government's policies to achieve the expected goals.
"This is not only a part of medical staff and government's duty or the responsibility. But instead, we are the last guard. The important leading line lies in society. If the community can hold back and minimize the unimportant needs, we might achieve the goal of PTKM," she concluded.
Author: Gloria
Translator: Natasa A