Gov’t to Adopt New Methods to Change People’s Behavior in Tackling COVID-19

Head of COVID-19 Task Force Doni Monardo gives press statement after attending a limited meeting on Monday (27/7) (Photo: Rahmat/PR).

In an attempt to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on his Cabinet to change people’s behavior through more effective methods.

According to Head of COVID-19 Task Force Doni Monardo, the Government will enhance community-based pentahelix collaboration by emphasizing the role of local figures, including religious leaders, the communities, anthropologist, sociologist, and psychologist which will be focused on eight provinces as directed by the President.

Doni cited an example of how the past Dutch colonial government handled Spanish Flu outbreak that hit Java in 1918 by adopting cultural approaches to change people’s behavior.

“The Government is trying to formulate a more effective communication and dissemination strategy to reach the village level, so that the communities will better understand the current situation,” Doni said.

The President, according to Doni, also stressed that dissemination and communication strategies should be focused on certain themes that are easy for the public to follow.

“For example, this week’s dissemination theme is something related to maintaining social distance and avoiding crowds. For this matter, we will involve journalist and mass media to participate in the campaign,” Doni said.

In addition to maintaining distance, Doni continued, using a face mask and washing hands frequently with soap and running water will be the next campaign theme.

Leaders across the country are also expected to set an example on how to do it properly, he added.

Furthermore, Doni explained that the task force had been tasked to lower the number of positive cases, especially in eight hardest-hit provinces, to reduce death rate, as well as to increase recovery rate.

Doni went on to say that Minister of Health on various occasions has also communicated with a number of teams to enforce the SOPs for health workers so that they can work safely.

“The Vice President also put emphasis on improving coordination between agencies and ministries including enhancing coordination procedures to make it even more concrete,” Doni said. (MAY / EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas