By: Andhika Permana) *
The corona virus, known as covid-19, has caused panic in nearly half the people on earth. The situation was compounded by the existence of hoaxes around the Corona Virus, which further fueled public unrest. Citizens were ready to post positive content to ward off the Corona Virus hoax.
Not a few people who sell masks at prices up to 3 times the normal price, even after President Joko Widodo announced there were 2 citizens who were positive corona, panic buying was rampant in various shopping centers.
In the midst of public panic, it turns out there are still elements who take advantage of this disaster for their own interests or benefits, such as buying excessive food to sell masks at high prices.
The act of buying food that is not fair can certainly cause economic turmoil. Therefore, the government and the community must work together to face this problem, not make the situation worse.
Many people do not know, that when he is healthy, he does not need a mask, because the mask is actually only intended for those who are sick, health workers and patients who are in the monitoring of the risk of infection.
Minister of Health (Menkes) Terawan Agus Putranto revealed, that the mask is indeed effective for the sick and less effective for the healthy.
He said that the way to prevent the corona virus is to maintain the immune system through the consumption of healthy food, adequate sleep and maintain the cleanliness of the surrounding environment
So that people must continue to live clean and healthy behavior (PHBS), in addition to that we also should not be lulled into spreading news that is not necessarily true or hoaks related to the corona virus.
Steps that we can take apart from maintaining PHBS is by sharing positive posts related to tips to ward off the corona virus and to appreciate the government and institutions that have contributed to counteract the spread of the corona virus.
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has prepared at least 28 regional hospitals in the West Java region to treat patients infected with the corona virus.
He also specifically alerted Hasan Sadikin Hospital to treat corona patients in the Bandung area and beyond.
For the Depok area, Ridwan Kamil also ensured that all regional hospitals could accept patients with corona symptoms. Depok District Hospital, for example, is alerted to be responsive in handling patients who feel infected with the virus.
On different occasions the government of Central Java Province also applied the alert status after 2 residents in Depok, West Java tested positive for the corona virus.
The alert status was announced through a circular letter from the Central Java Provincial Health Office to all Regional Heads and Management of all hospitals, to prepare isolation rooms and special medical personnel as an effort to quickly take patients with symptoms of corona virus.
The Health Service also appealed to the Hospital not to be negligent in equipping its employees with personal protective equipment (PPE).
The government does not remain silent about all the impacts caused by corona, vigilance is indeed necessary, but panic is not something smart.
The more often we wash our hands, the safer we are from exposure to the corona virus, the campaign about washing hands with soap certainly needs to be encouraged, this is because the threat in Indonesia is actually not only corona, but also tuberculosis.
We certainly can not close our eyes, that the incidence of tuberculosis is like an iceberg, where many are not detected and not treated properly.
Corona transmission is through droplets, which are fluids from patients who enter through the mouth, nose and eyes, while tuberculosis is transmitted airborne or through the air.
If the price of hand sanitizers soar high, washing hands with regular soap is also still effective in killing germs in our hands. To be sure we must remain vigilant and not panic if there is information related to the unclear corona where the source is.
Corona related media coverage could have had a more dangerous impact than the spread of the corona virus itself.
) * The author is a social political observer
