The biggest Muslims nation in the world, Indonesia just like the rest of 200 odd countries is affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. With a population of 270 million, 1000 over islands, a healthcare system that’s not capable of handling large volume of patients, there is no other option but containment.
However, President Wido Jokowi has chosen jobs over lockdown for Indonesia. As bewildering as it may seem, the country is at the verge of a large scale spread and if the government should reconsider its stance and need to revise its movement policy. The country reported 2300 cases with 220 deaths, alarmingly 12 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours. Statistics coming out of the government is claimed to be under reported by the medical fraternity who say there are unrecorded deaths which are being quickly buried. Jakarta where most of the cases are being occurring, houses over 30 million Indonesians and many of the people live in slums. Just like India, the Southeast Asian nation is in danger of becoming a Super Spreader of the Covid 19 virus.
According to National Disaster Mitigation Agency, the reason the President did not impose a lockdown or MCO like in Malaysia, is due to the sheer impact such a move will cause the government. Millions of people will need aid, financial assistance something Indonesia is not capable of at this moment. Also there are millions who are living on daily wages, going from hand to mouth, the lockdown will restrict their income causing distress to their family. Instead Jokowi has imposed restriction on certain activities like large gatherings and asked the citizen to practice hygiene and social distancing. But here’s the danger, with Aidilfitri and Ramadan just weeks away, Jakarta will see a massive exodus when millions head back to their villages for the Muslim festivity and potentially those with the virus bringing it back with them.
Just like Italy that ignored calls for clampdown, the only way to break the chain of the spread is pointing more towards how China acted in Wuhan. Jokowi’s choice of saving jobs and livelihood over a total lockdown is a dangerous approach, especially in a country that is teetering on a pandemic. Even Malaysia bit the bitter pill and opted for Movement Control Order, which is proving to be keeping the spread at bay for now. Jokowi needs to realise if Indonesia fails in its bid to stem the spread, the whole region including Malaysia could be staring at another Covid 19 crisis.
