Health protocols vs Hoax in Indonesia’s COVID-19 tsunami
As we know, Indonesia is facing a surge of COVID-19 cases, with daily cases around 30,000–50,000 this July. We also know that citizens are tired of prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover the misleading information shared on WhatsApp group make the situation even worse.
How about the discipline to apply health protocols among citizens?
The statistic survey at covid19.go.id showed that >70% of citizens in Java Island and Bali region are wearing mask. The lowest percentage (<60%) belongs to Tegal, a city in Central Java. In Sumatra Island, the percentage varies from <60% to >70%. In some areas, like Palalawan district in Riau province; South Bengkulu district; Indragiri Hulu district found that <60% of their citizens are wearing mask. In West Nusa Tenggara Island, West Sumbawa district also has the lowest percentage of wearing mask. In North Maluku Island, also <60% of their people are wearing mask. Also, some parts of Maluku Island still have low percentage of wearing mask in public. In Papua, Yakuhimo district, Boven Digoel district, and Nabire district <60% of their citizens obey to wear mask.
Daily new cases in Indonesia
Indonesia’s Government is applying tight mobility restriction to Java Island and Bali Island since July 3 2021. However, other regions like Sumatra, Maluku, Papua have no such restriction and the cases are also increasing in those areas. For example, in Maluku Island, around 300 people get infected on mid July 2021. Or in Papua, where the cases are also increasing and reached 357 new cases on July 14 2021. We also know that National Sports Event will be held in Papua. Looking at the preparedness of the region , health literacy of the people, vaccination rate and willingness to obey health protocols, it seems impossible to hold the event.
What about the news circulating around citizens?
Due to low testing and tracing, some regions seem to have low daily cases, compared to other big cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung. Some of the citizens also think that COVID-19 only exist in big cities, there’s no way it can infect people living in remote area. Also, a lot of misleading news at WhatsApp group make people unwilling to get tested, get vaccinated, and wear mask in public places. They believe in immune supplements more than vaccine, wear mask is more dangerous because you inhale your CO2, COVID-19 is a conspiracy theory that gives profit to hospitals and healthcare workers . No wonder, hospitals are near collapse, healthcare workers are getting sick, dozens of people lining in front of ER to get treated, and also hundreds of people die at home due to COVID-19 or unclear cause of death.
I must admit that hoax defeats health protocols and Government regulations right now …
I have seen some testimonies about how their parents, uncle, or closed ones died because of believing that COVID-19 is unreal, COVID-19 vaccine is harmful, if you go to the hospital you will be diagnosed with COVID-19, if you get tested you will only get the positive result, and if you die at the hospital you will be buried based on COVID-19 burial protocol. Most of them regretted the action of hoax news spreaders and angry because those kind of news killed their loved ones, but it is too late.
What should we do now ?
Educate more people about how dangerous COVID-19 is, that the more we deny it, the more it grows within us. Show them that COVID-19 vaccine works effectively to prevent death because of COVID-19 and get hospitalized. Also explain to them the analogy how measles vaccine or mumps vaccine prevent death due to measles or mumps infection, though you still be able to get infected by measles or mumps with mild symptoms. And tell them to wear mask in public whether you are vaccinated or not. Because you can kill vulnerable people if you don’t. If we still think that COVID-19 can’t cause severe symptoms among young people with no comorbid, that’s totally wrong. Right now, age range of COVID-19 patients in ICU has shifted to 30–50 years old. Last advice, get tested if you have symptoms and contact healthcare practitioners if you need help.
Stay safe. Stay sane.
