By: Rifat Akbar) *
Corona virus that spreads from Wuhan-China has triggered global concern for other countries. The government was ready to anticipate the Corona virus threats by taking various steps lan gkah tactical.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a new official name for the corona virus, Covid-19. WHO Director General Tedros Adhano m Ghebreyesus told the media in Geneva , Switzerland that the name was chosen to avoid stigma against certain races, geographical locations, or animal species. Currently, w abah Covid-19 or viral corona , is reported to have killed more than 1,000 people. Most of the victims were in China, while the other two were in Hong Kong and the Philippines. The number of people infected with the corona virus worldwide has reached more than 44,000 and killed 1,115. More than 25 thousand Hubei residents have been treated for the corona virus. Of that number, 1,298 are in critical condition.
WHO Director General , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the world must be aware and consider the corona virus as the number one public enemy . P enyebaran virus can cause widespread disruption and massive and rated more powerful in creating political upheaval, social, and economists i rather than a terrorist attack anything else. One impact that is stunting e konomi China and the influence of global economic turmoil, and the emergence of a political crisis that shook the authority of the President of China, Xi Jinping related to the lack of confidence of the Chinese people for the spread of the corona virus.
What about Indonesia’s readiness to overcome the Covid-19 threat ? President Joko Widodo, has instructed all relevant Ministers to calculate how big the impact of the corona virus is for the Indonesian economy and ask all people to not panic about the corona virus. The government has taken various steps to prevent the spread of the corona virus in the country by taking protective and preventative measures so that the corona virus does not threaten the health of the Indonesian people . Starting from the enactment of the health protocol, then does not allow all migrants who arrive from mainland China or have been there for 14 days to enter and transit in Indonesia. Regarding health protocols, Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto stressed that the Corona virus until now has not entered Indonesia and the government has not covered up any cases . The Ministry of Health has a proven tool for the examination related to the virus and applies health pro tocol as well as possible one of which optimizes the use of thermal scanners at airports and international tourist entrances, hospitals, and other health services.
WHO representative for Indonesia, Dr. N. Paranietharan asserted, Indonesia has the ability to detect the corona virus. For those who still doubt Indonesia’s ability to detect the corona virus, Indonesia has the capacity. Indonesia has the tools . Examination of 2019-nCoV basically can be seen from genomic sequencing (DNA sequencing) which has only been available from China since January 12. And the virus can be detected using PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction , it’s just that the whole series of checks takes a long time. Indonesia has always had a PCR for coronavirus since January 14 like other Asian countries
In addition to banning foreign nationals who in the last 14 days visited China to come to Indonesia, the government also temporarily stopped importing products from China. Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartanto said the government’s policy prohibits the importation of life animals from China. If someone is now sent to Indonesia, it will be returned. Trade Minister, Agus Supramanto also asserted only live animals are suspended imports for a while.
One more government effort which in this case should be appreciated is the rapid evacuation process of Indonesian citizens in Hubei Province, China back to the country, with such observation and quarantine stages in Natuna, showing the readiness and good planning of the government in anticipating the spread of the virus to Indonesia as well secure Indonesian citizens in China who are potentially exposed to the virus . However , the government’s efforts to combat the huge potential threat of the corona virus , both in terms of social, economic and political needs to have the support of all parties, the synergy and coordination of elements of government as well as the vigilance and awareness of the entire community to keep Indonesia safe from the corona virus that has claimed victims. more than the SARS virus in 2002-2003.
) * The author is a social political observer