How long have we been in quarantine by now?

Seriously, it’s been so long that we can’t even remember the last time we went to that spa parlor we love so much. Is it 100 days, or 150? We don’t even know anymore. Point is, we have spent so much time staying home that Mondays are no different to Fridays, and the idea of going for a quick grocery run is more than enough reason to put that pretty dress on; some of us even use the opportunity to put a full make-up eventhough it’s gonna be covered by a mask afterall. Better use those products before they go bad, sister. We feel you.

This quarantine has stretched so much and with so much uncertainty that we can’t help but feeling fed up with the whole situation by now. This is where the danger lurks, eyeing on us with its evil eyes. Be careful, just when we think we’re invinsible, Covid will prove that we are not. If you are healthy today, it is because you stayed home all this time. You have washed your hands so many times a day and do all the other health protocols, resulting in this good health you are still having today. Please do not give up now. Protect yourself, protect others.

As of today, there have been 2,358 positive cases of Corona Virus with 1,572 of them recovered, 759 in care, and 27 declared dead. This relatively good ratio is the outcome of the semi-lockdown situation we have been doing these past four months, but with the public places reopening this July, we can only hope that people will at least maintain the health protocols so the numbers will not change to the worse.

Yes, Bali is slowly getting back in its feet. Stumbling here and there like a toddler learning to walk, but steadying more and more each day. Cafés and restaurants are reopening their doors, and so are the bars we have been missing so much. Here come the days of lying under the sun with our favorite spirits in a glass, once more. Just hopefully not as crammed as they used to be.

The only way this is going to work, in our opinion, is if the government make strict regulations on New Normal Business Operational Guide; and taking it seriously. There should be pecalangs doing patrols on beaches and establishments, making sure they follow the rules. That is, of course, if we want the island to continue having minor Covid death rate.

The Indonesian Government has formulated Health Protocol to Prepare for the ‘New Normal’.   Minister of National Development Planning (PPN) / Head of National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa has said that the Government is currently designing a safe and productive health protocol to protect the public from corona virus. “The WHO provides several indicators to be obeyed by all countries in the world in order to adjust their normal life called ‘a new normal’ with COVID-19 until we find a vaccine,” Suharso said.

The indicators are as follows: First, how to stop or reduce transmission as many as possible. According to Suharso, one of the way to do this is through Large-scale Social Restrictions (PSBB). “Some public policies are taken by the Government, while continue to protect the face by using masks,” said the Minister.

Second, using health system indicators to show the capacity of the health system in respond to COVID-19. “So if there is a new transmission or patient, the system should show the availability of beds in hospital. The number of new cases must be smaller than the capacity of health services available,” he said.

The capacity of health services, according to Suharso, should be 60% of the total health capacity. For example, if a hospital has 100 beds, then 60 beds are for COVID-19 patients. “Now, the number of new patients each day must be below 60. That is called a measurable health system capacity that can be used to decide whether the Government should ease the restrictions or not,” he explained.

Third, to conduct a massive test to group of potential people who are most likely to get infected by the virus. “Currently, Indonesia massive test is among the lowest in the world. We have only reached 743 tests per 1 million people, or 202,936 people tested so far,” he said.

With the current capacity, the Minister continued, Indonesia has to increase the test capacity to 10,000 to 12,000 per day. “Hopefully in the near future we can reach 12 thousand tests per day or higher, “he said. The protocol, according to Suharso, must be promoted and campaigned by the press so that the people can prepare themselves to start a new normal life. “The campaign is about how to live with the new normal, how to behave in restaurants, airport, seaport, train station, and anywhere where we may have potential contact with other people,” he explained.

As evident, the success rate of this New Normal protocols relies on our commitment to apply them on our daily activities. Let us try our best to do as we are told and keep the numbers steady, if not lowering them. The destiny of this little island is really in our hands. Until next time, and stay healthy.

Source: https://setkab.go.id/en/govt-formulates-health-protocol-to-prepare-new-normal/