Surviving in COVID-19 Pandemic Situation

General Situation on COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

It has been a while or perhaps quite a long time since my last post. However, I feel the tiredness or fatigue to make any kind of writings. It might because of the boredom from the whole pandemic situation and #StayatHome or maybe because I lose my confidence after nearly 3 months of struggling to find a new job and dealing with the family financial crisis. Instead, drown with my emotions, I decided to take the time focusing on my writing more on how to keep the family connected and keep my head and eyes for any job opportunity during the pandemic situation.

I live in a very diverse country of Indonesia with various kinds of race, religion, culture, and tribe. We have 34 provinces or county each with their own uniqueness. As Indonesia is an archipelago country with a lot of lands separate one to another, it becomes a challenge to have fair and just welfare for all of its citizens. Especially for the eastern part of Indonesia will always far behind the other provinces that are located in opposite the region. 

In April 2019 to the end of February 2020, I was assigned in NTB Province or well known as Lombok Island for Earthquake Recovery Project with a UN Agency. Lombok is located in the eastern part of Indonesia and near to Bali. It is also recognized for its famous panoramic tourism sites. It was eye-opening and learning experience to have the chance of working directly with the village communities for the project. I bailed out from the job after organizing Socialization on COVID-19 in which also contradicting in the internal team as it did not have any relevance with the project. Still, as a Warden for NTB Region, I felt the obligation to deliver the event, as referring to the WHO advises per 30 January 2020 that declared the situation as Public Health Emergency of International Concern and notified all nations.

The event was still be held on 11 February 2020, and a month after the event, the Government of Indonesia declared the Emergency Status in Certain Situation of COVID-19 Pandemic which then starting affected multi-sector until now. Well, surely the messenger did not do wrong since she took the liberty and initiated the dissemination of information about the potential of the pandemic as part of the precaution of everyone. 

Socialization on COVID-19 and Disaster Strategic Plan of NTB Province jointly hosted with the NTB BPBD Province in Mataram City, 11 February 2020

Following my resignation, I return to my home base and reunited with my family, I also expected that several job tests and interviews will knock on my door. They did, but then I received many emails informing about the posts or vacancies are on hold until further notice due to pandemic situation. I used my time effectively and efficiently and managed to keep updated on the pandemic situation in the country. On 14 March 2020, I attended Press Conference at the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO/BNPB) in which the Acceleration of COVID-19 Management Task Force declared the Emergency Status in Certain Situation of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Representation of the Acceleration of COVID-19 Management Task Force comprised of military, BNPB, Ministry of Health, and State Secretary High Officials delivered their briefing on the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation

The Acceleration of COVID-19 Management Task Force or known as Gugus Tugas COVID-19 is established based on the Presidential Decree Number 9 the Year 2020. The task force is formed in order to: 1) increase national defense in the health sector; 2) accelerate the COVID-19 management through a partnership with joint ministries and local government; 3) increasing the anticipation of the escalation growth of COVID-19 transmission; 4) increasing synergy between decision-makers at the operational level, and; 5) increasing the preparedness and ability to prevent, detect, and respond to COVID-19. The Task Force comprises institutions and government agencies, as well as ministries, each with their own roles and responsibility in managing the COVID-19 situation. The details of composition, roles, and responsibility of the Task Force and other policies and regulations can be seen in https://covid19.go.id/p/regulasi.

Furthermore, as Indonesia has declared the situation Emergency Status in Certain Situation of COVID-19 Pandemic based on Head of NDMO Decree Number 13a Year of 2020 until 29 May 2020, the President of Indonesia later issued President Decree Number 11 the Year of 2020 on Public Health Emergency Status on 31 March 2020, as based on the law of Health Quarantine Number 6 the Year 2018. Yet 2 weeks after, on 13 April 2020, the President issued President Decree Number 12 the year 2020 on COVID-19 National Non-Natural Disaster.

The Social Restriction and Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic
Like many other countries, Indonesia also applied Large Scale Social Restriction or known as PSBB in order to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some standards are applied during the PSBB, which include:
1. wearing a mask if you are outside the house
2. keep social distancing of 1-2 meters during social interaction
3. washing hand regularly or use hand sanitizer
4. change your clothes when you return home
While for those who are living in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek), there is a restriction for travel, include those who are working in 11 sectors (health, foods and beverages, energy, communication and technology information, finance, hotel, logistic, construction, strategic industry, basic services and vital object of public utilities and industries, and basic needs). The restriction include:
1. The applied of odd and even plate id number for cars and motorcycle (Odd and Even Plate Number Restriction means that your vehicles can only be passed through the roads and checkpoints if your vehicle last plate has similar odd or even number with the current date you are out, for instance: if it is now 9 June 2020, then vehicles that are allowed to past are the Odd numbers of 1,3,5,7, 9, etc).
2. The restriction of number of passengers in the vehicles (for motorcycle passenger-only those who has same ID Address based on ID Card with the riders; for SUV 3-4 passengers, exclude the driver)

3. Obtain SIKM or Entrance and Exit Permission Letter for those who are traveling cross Jabodetabek. You can get more information on the submission of permission letter requested in https://corona.jakarta.go.id/id/izin-keluar-masuk-jakarta

Taking into a note that each province have their own period dating of the implementation of PSBB, for instance: Jakarta up to 31 June 2020 with a transition phase to New Normal, West Java Province until 12 June 2020, Banten Province until 14 June 2020, and other provinces such as Bali, and Aceh, the Province Government decided not to apply for PSBB, yet they have their own restriction in reducing the spread of the pandemic transmitted, such as rotation of public transportation.

As the end of PSBB is approaching in most of the provinces, now the Government of Indonesia through its Acceleration of COVID-19 Management of Task Force (Gugus Tugas COVID-19) will focus more on the community level restriction for the red zone areas, in which has a high risk of COVID-19 transmission compare to the yellow zone and green zone (COVID-19 free zone). Up to 9 June 2020, the status of the yellow, and green zone can be seen in the graphic below.

What does the impact of PSBB in the socio-economic sector?. A similar impact happens in Indonesia as much alike in many other countries; people are forced to work from home, students spend their time doing online study, tourism and recreation sites are closed, public transportation is limited, and people are advised to stay at home. The current situation has triggered many job losses, some type of criminalities and domestic abuse are increasing, and escalation number of mental health cases.

Having said that the mirror or coin has two sides, we also have to see the fact that the Government of Indonesia has tried their best to manage the situation. some of the contexts of their efforts include:
1. Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) or Family Hope Program which provides support for each HH in the sum of 10 million IDR, with the total budget available for this program worth 37,4 trillion IDR. details information on this program can be accessed in https://pkh.kemsos.go.id/?pg=tentangpkh-1
2. Kartu Sembako Murah (KSM) or Affordable Basic and Essentials Needs Card which is provided for 20 million beneficiaries, each of them will receive a credit of 200 thousand IDR, with total aid worthed for 43,6 trillion IDR. Information related to the procedure for applying KSM can be seen inhttps://tirto.id/cara-dan-prosedur-dapatkan-kartu-sembako-murah-eLyr
3. Pre-Employment Card or Kartu Prakerja is targeted for 5,6 million people in the form of a post-training incentive that is provided monthly in the sum of 600 thousand IDR for 4 months. the total budget for this program reached 20 trillion IDR. Details information for this program can be seen in https://www.prakerja.go.id/
4. Subsidize of electricity tariff for 450 VA power supply to 24 million users, and discount for 900 VA power supply for 7 million users. The total budget that is prepared for this program 3,5 trillion IDR. You can visit the following link to know more about the procedure in requesting for the subsidy https://www.lightup.id/index.html#!/
5. Social Aid (BANSOS) for Basic and Essentials Items for Jakarta Citizen. The aid is provided for 2,6 million people or 1,2 million households with the value of the items are 600 thousand IDR that is given for 3 months in a row. The total budget that is allocated for this program is 2,2 trillion IDR. The information about this program can be accessed in https://corona.jakarta.go.id/id/informasi-bantuan-sosial
6. BANSOS for citizens of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (BODETABEK) with the same value of 600 thousand IDR per month for 3 months. It is provided for 1,6 million people or 576 thousand households.
7. BANSOS for citizens who live outside of Jabodetabek for 9 million households, whom they have not yet received either PKH or BANSOS SEMBAKO. The total budget that is allocated for these beneficiaries in sum 16,2 trillion IDR. The value is the same with BANSOS Jakarta or BODETABEK
8. Some portion from the Village Fund or Dana Desa is also allocated for 10 million households with a total value of aid is 600 thousand IDR per month for 3 months. The total budget that has been allocated for this program is 21 trillion IDR. Facts and Questions regarding this fund can be seen in http://www.djpk.kemenkeu.go.id/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/FAQ-Dana-Desa-COVID-19.pdf
9. Cash Transfer Program in each ministry with a total budget that is allocated is 16,9 trillion IDR. This program will be implemented through Ministry of Village and it is expected to absorb around 59 thousand workers. Other ministries, such as the Ministry of Public Works also have a similar program that will empower 530 thousand workers with total budget allocation reached 10,2 trillion IDR. The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, and Ministry of Transportation also implement have allocated their budget for the same program.
10 The Indonesia Police Department launched a Safety Program in which the program has similarities with the Pre-Employment Card, it combines social aid with training. This program is targeted for 197 thousand taxi, bus, and truck drivers with incentives equal to 600 thousand IDR per month for 3 months. The total budget that is available and in running is in sum 360 billion IDR.

Despite the fact that the Government of Indonesia has developed many programs to support the effected citizens, however, sadly there is a lack of quality aspects that are missed out in the process. For instance, in the context of Distribution of Basic and Essentials Food Aid, or known as SEMBAKO, most of these programs provide a package of rice, biscuit, soya ketchup, canned sardine, vegetable oil, soap bar, noodle, and flour for the affected beneficiaries. For some people these type of food aid seems reasonable, however, if you are working in the humanitarian sector,  you will understand that there is a specific standard for food aid, in which it has to have the balance of nutrition and adequate quantity per specific group of people that is differentiated by sex, age, and certain condition (elderly, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, etc).

As I was also affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic and considered to be properly selected to receive one of the SEMBAKO packages, the Neighboring Unit or RW decided to give us the Food Package. I am grateful for their generosity, although I have to complain that the package that worth 250 thousand IDR or equal to 15 USD, should be improved. There are several good lessons from other regions, such as the Food Package or SEMBAKO that is provided by the Province Government of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and West Java. The SEMBAKO from the Province Government of NTB consists of variant food items that are adapted to the local context, include vegetable/coconut oil locally produced (not manufacturing), rice, egg, salted fish, soya milk/ginger powder drink, mask, locally produced antiseptic soap, moringa tea, and clove oil/cajuput oil (https://lombokpost.jawapos.com/ntb/16/04/2020/pemprov-ntb-buang-kesempatan-hemat-anggaran-rp-693-miliar/amp/). The total value of the aid is 250 thousand IDR. While the Province of Government of West Java provided the package contents of cash 150 thousand IDR, rice, flour, Vitamin C, canned sardine, sugar, instant noodle, vegetable oil, and eggs (https://amp.suara.com/news/2020/04/17/164457/warga-bandingkan-bantuan-sembako-dari-jabar-dan-dki-jakarta). The total value of this aid is 350 thousand IDR. Based on the comparisons of these three SEMBAKO packages, without discrediting particular province government, I think it is also important to have the members of the Task Force or staff who are in charge or responsible in managing the SEMBAKO Program to have more knowledge and awareness on the Health and Nutrition Standard as part of ensuring the quality of humanitarian service for the people.

Entering New Normal, What Is Next?
Along with applying PSBB into force, in some areas, the PSBB is now transitioned to New Normal, several other standards and restriction are applied as part of preventing the appearance of new cases once the people are in the transition returning to their activity. It is very important to build a community understanding to obey the basic hygiene and sanitation health as part of their daily habits, include: washing hand regularly, wearing masks, and bring your own lunch are just a few examples that might need to be practiced.

While for the companies and employers, it would be mandatory for them to apply high standard rules to ensure the control and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission that might affect their visitors/guests, or employees. The rules should include a routine check of body temperature for those who entered the building or premises, provision of hand sanitizer and proper hand wash facilities, monitoring of staff health, rotation or shifting or staff working hours, and regular disinfection of office facilities and equipment. The National Development Planning Agency or Bappenas has developed an information dashboard that provides relevant news and information for the New Normal. this dashboard can be accessed at http://covid.bappenas.go.id/. Several information brochures or flyers are also developed to provide comprehensive information and guidance for the public in preparing the New Normal, such as the basic protocols below.

Empowering Family Resiliency Against COVID-19 Pandemic

As part of the strategy in reducing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to building understanding among family members and increasing family resiliency. The parents do not just have to deal with the financial crisis due to salary cutting or separation, but they also need to assist the children in their study, as education is now being done online or through distance learning. I take my own personal lessons, in which I have to manage my time in between hunting for a new job, managing the household issues as we are no longer afford to hire assistants, and nurturing the children. I am lucky to have a spouse who is supportive and willing to share the responsibility. He is a rare gentleman who always offers his hands when he is at home, either washing the dishes, plays with the children, mopping, or brushing the floors. In Indonesia, it is a patriarchy value that has a strong root in most of the communities' life. I am not really sure whether our mixed blood of Arabic, Chinese, and India that influences the way of men in our family to support their wives However, i can tell that in this pandemic situation, an equal partnership in domestic life needs to put up a center to build family resiliency and it is a bless for me that our family man has been the rock for us.

COVID-19 has also become everyone' business, including our children It is unavoidable for us as parents to introduce and educate our children about COVID-19. Within the past months, I found plenty of resources for children. These following materials are some of them that are easy to understand and can be used as reference for our children.

1. Ana Gomez, The Story of Oyster and Me https://www.anagomez.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2020/04/OysterandButterfly-EnglishV3.pdf

2. Welt Hunger Hilfe, No Chance for Corona https://www.welthungerhilfe.org/coronavirus-comic/

3. Manuela Molina, Hello My Name is Corona Virus https://www.mindheart.co/descargables

Grievance and mental health support is also another important issues that need to build up in our family and community Especially for those who are lost their family members because of COVID-19 or has a weak or limited capacity in coping with the situation will need to put as part of attention as well. There are plenty of online services that provide referral or psychosocial first aid for the family members and community at large. They are accessible and free of charges, such as the HIMPSI Jaya (Psychology Association) Call Centre or Red Cross.

I realize that it is a very difficult situation for all of us right now, but I strongly believe that we do need to hold on to our faith and maintain positivism, do not lose hope, and confidence that everything will be fine eventually. It will take time to recover and I think we can all use the time #StayAtHome by doing some self-improvement to our personal and professionals lives. You can also try several job websites that offer freelance job, such as the UpWork https://www.upwork.com/freelance-jobs/ or take some free online course such as the ones that offered by EDX https://www.edx.org/ Nevertheless in this circumstance situation, I think we all should also learn to be more empathize, modest, and stay humble. Help the community by joining as a volunteer for Acceleration of COVID-19 Task Force Management (Gugus Tugas) or with your neighboring unit task force, or just simply maintain the connection with your family members, relatives, colleagues, and friends to ensure them your present for them and vice versa. Stay safe, stay healthy, and be positive!.