U-turn: Indonesian Government Policy to Prevent the Spread of Corona

Ramlan Nugraha

Eid al-Fitr is a day awaited by Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia. The day when Muslims finish fasting for a whole month. One of the traditions that is carried out before the holiday is to return to your hometown. However, because this year is still in a pandemic condition, this yearly tradition for some people cannot be implemented. This is because the government has prohibited people from returning home so that the spread of Corona-19 can be controlled.

Thousands of riders turned back (Source: Buletin iNews)

One of the ways that the government is to instruct people who are going home to use vehicles to make a U-turn. The police are on guard at every strategic point on the road, especially in the border areas between districts and provinces. They check every passing vehicle. Only people who have covid-free letters and have emergency purposes such as transporting sick people, official jobs, delivering logistical needs or packages that can pass through security. It creates long traffic jams on the highway and crowds people.

However, this method is quite effective in overcoming the spread of covid. Based on information from Minister Airlangga Hartanto (Kompas, 12/05), around 4,000 of the 6,000 people who were randomly tested on the street were positive for Covid. Those who are positive must carry out independent isolation in a place provided by the government.

However, there are still many people who have successfully passed the guard. the number of travelers cannot be guarded by the police. The police have also relaxed their guard so that congestion can be reduced.

In my opinion, this government policy should have been communicated earlier to the public. The government educates on why the tradition of returning home before holidays can contribute to the spread of covid 19. education can be carried out through media campaigns so that it can increase public awareness.

If the government can communicate earlier, maybe the public can understand this policy. so that not many people protest against the government. In addition, people are also disappointed when the government even allows foreign nationals to enter Indonesia easily. even though most of them come from countries that are hit by Covid 19.