Gov’t to Prepare Scenarios to Strengthen Health System, Rebuild Economy to Adapt to New Normal

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto delivers a press statement after a limited meeting through a video conference, Wednesday (27/5). (Photo by: Rahmat/PR).

The Government has announced it will prepare policies to strengthen the country’s health system and to boost economy in anticipation of the new normal.

“We have to adapt to the COVID-19. It will take time before a vaccine is found yet and immunization is implemented and widely distributed. Therefore, we have to prepare for a new normal,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in a press statement after a limited meeting, Wednesday (27/5).

The preparation, according to Airlangga, is expected to reduce the number of victims affected by the COVID-19 and people who are laid-off, as well as to re-start socio-economy.

“If we look at the scenarios of infection rates or high and low mortality, slow recovery, severe recession, and rapid recovery, we hope Indonesia will come out with a V shape or known as productive and safe in a new normal amid the COVID-19 outbreak,” he said.

In terms of juridical aspect, Airlangga said Minister of Health will determine the implementation and termination of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) and once the time period expires, the PSBB will automatically end.

The Government, according to him, will also encourage a normal life, while paying attention to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) data and facts that occur on the ground, accelerating economic recovery by opening up or adjusting economic activities after the sloping curve, and carrying out activities based on fiscal and monetary impetus to cope with economic recession.

The Government has also devised a national economic recovery (PEN) program in accordance with Government Regulation Number 23 of 2020, he added.

Those stages, Airlangga continued, will adhere to health aspects, namely disease development, virus surveillance, health service capacity, and dimensions of socio-economic readiness, protocols for each sector/region, and transportation integrated with others.

“Various sectors have prepared the protocol. There are requirements that we refer to as necessary conditions based on the development of COVID-19,” he said.

The Central Government will also coordinate with regional governments regarding socio-economic readiness, he said, adding that the basic reproduction number (R0) of COVID-19 has fallen below one in several provinces on the island of Java such as Central Java, capital Jakarta, and Yogyakarta as well as Bali island in the past three months.

In the meantime, other provinces that have seen a drop in the transmission rate include Aceh, West Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands, and Riau provinces, as well as West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan.

Regarding health protocols, Ministry of Health, Airlangga said, has issued guidelines to adapt to new normal at workplace and industries.

As for tourism sector, Airlangga explained that the Government will establish standard operating procedures (SOP) for hotels and restaurants and so on with limited capacity.

Regarding trade sector, the focus, he said, is on traditional markets, rules to consumers, and operational time.

Citing data from the BNPB, Airlangga said 110 regencies/cities have never been affected by COVID-19.

“Those areas are included in the green area. We can prepare for new normal activities in those areas,” he said.

As for those areas with the reproduction rate (Rt) below one, regional heads and the regional leadership communication forum (Forkopimda) are expected to coordinate and develop protocols for field trials before opening activities, he added.

“In accordance with the President’s directive, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) will supervise and monitor crowded places to ensure that health protocols are carried out with discipline in anticipation of the emergence of second wave,” he said, adding that if a second wave occurs, several activities will be disrupted and stopped again.

For this reason, the Government will continue to perform dissemination, education, monitoring, and to enforce strict law, the Coordinating Minister said. (FID/EN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas