COVID-19: CARE OR CARELESS?

COVID-19: CARE OR CARELESS?

          Covid-19 has shocked all countries in the world. How come? It has made many people afraid to do activities outside. The number of Covid-19 positive patients continues to increase every single day, especially in Indonesia. According to the Wikipedia website (https://news.google.com/covid19/map?hl=id&mid=/m/03ryn&gl=ID&ceid=ID:id), the number of confirmed cases in Indonesia is 56,385 with details of 24,806 people recovered and 2,876 people died (June 30, 2020). How could Covid-19 spread so fast? Does the government  not appeal to the public to remain seated at home when there is no important business or activities outside? Does the government not appeal to the public to keep wearing masks and keep their distance when they have to do activities outside? Does the government not urge people to always wash their hands with soap and use hand sanitizers? These questions arise when looking at the situation of the country which is increasingly more and more cases of positive Covid-19.

          However, President Joko Widodo or Jokowi again spoke about Covid-19 at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Liputan6.com, Jakarta (https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/4202629/imbauan-jokowi-terkait-covid-19-dari-kerja-dari-rumah-hingga-ingatkan-social-distancing). Jokowi has appeal regarding Covid-19, from work from home to remind social distancing. This was done by Jokowi to minimize the prevention of the spread of Covid-19. "To overcome the spread of Covid-19 to make a learning policy from home for students, some ASNs can work from home online and prioritize excellent service from the community." Not only that, Jokowi also claimed to have asked his ministers to conduct a health check to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 corona virus. This examination is due to the Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi who has tested positive for the Covid-19 corona virus. Recently, according to one of the researchers of Youth in the Legal Field at the Research Center of the Indonesian House of Representatives, the Indonesian government on March 31, 2020 established Emergency conditions Public Health related Covid-19 and then published the policy Large-scale Social Restrictions (PSBB). Based on the explanation above, is this the fault of the government or the Indonesian people? Do they care? Or are they careless?

          There are some facts that shows what happen in Indonesia during the Covid-19. Psychologist Vici Sofianna Putera in CNNIndonesia.com (https://www.cnnindonesia.com/gaya-hidup/20200323070716-284-485888/risiko-corona-dianggap-rendahorang-tetap-bandel-keluar-rumah) thinks this is related to people's perceptions of a low risk of viral infection, Friday (3/20). Vici assessed that so far the government uses mostly English such as social distancing or work from home [WFH] or working from home. In fact, there are simpler languages ​​such as not being close to other people and not being able to leave the house. Vici suggested that various parties use campaign language that is easy to understand. The campaign must also pay attention to the closeness of the message to the daily lives of Indonesians and involve public figures. The message must be made as simple as possible such as, 'if you hold an object carelessly can transmit the virus' including the delivery of questions about visits to tourist attractions that can make people infected with the virus.

          In addition, According to University of Indonesia Observer Communication, Irwansyah, when contacted merdeka.com, Friday (5/15) in Merdeka.com (https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/ini-penyebab-aturan-protokol-cegah-covid-19-tak-sepenuhnya-dipatuhi-masyarakat.html), the government made and repeatedly appealed to the importance of implementing health protocols to protect themselves from exposure to the Corona or Covid-19 virus. Like keeping a distance, washing hands, using a mask to stay at home. However, many people have not fully obeyed the rules. Considered as the cause is the style of government communication when dealing with Covid-19 at its inception. "When several countries have declared outbreaks, the government plays with trivial words, jokes and makes them joke. People actually want certainty and firmness from the government when Indonesia is officially declared to have positive patients with Covid-19. Unfortunately the government's message seems to be closed- cover up when people need clear information from the message delivered. As a result of the communication style of the model, he said, it was difficult for the public to comply with 100 percent of the appeals submitted. In addition, no strict sanctions apply early for those who violate Covid-19 preventive health protocols. Irwansyah hopes that this communication style will be improved. In addition, the government or related parties to deal with this problem fall into spaciousness in the execution, because the community will obey if the leader is truly and consistent with what is conveyed.

          In conclusion, we cannot fully blame the Indonesian people. But that does not mean we can also fully blame the government for providing information. at the very least, we should care about ourselves and those around us by sticking to the Covid-19 health protocol that has been called on by the government.