Indonesia COVID-19 epicentre explainer

Just a stone's throw away from Australia's shore in Indonesia, a COVID-crisis is brewing. 

The most populous Muslim nation in the world has recorded alarming daily numbers of new cases — including doctors and children — to become the new epicentre in Asia, surpassing India despite only having a fraction of the population.

The highly transmissible Delta variant, first identified in India, is hitting more remote areas where health facilities have not been able to handle major outbreaks.

And despite government efforts to lock down major islands, grave diggers continue to work through the night to create a space for those who are infected.

So how did we get here?

Mixed messages from officials

Epidemiologists from Indonesia have repeatedly criticised the government for not listening or following advice from experts and scientists.

I warned, they didn't listen quote

In the early days of the pandemic last year, Indonesia's then health minister Terawan Agus Putrantro attributed the low cases of infection to prayer.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo sang the praises of traditional herbal remedies and attempted to prevent panic through positive narratives without a scientific basis.

The Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan — who is in charge of coordinating the island of Java and Bali's special emergency COVID-19 response — had also incorrectly said the virus could not survive in tropical climates.

Misinformation

also from officials

herd stupidity

A study released last month by the Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS) found anti-vaccine messaging was often combined with anti-Indonesian government and anti-Chinese sentiments.

The study, which focused on TikTok users in the country, found that these messages were "typically couched in religious discourse and spread by religious micro-influencers".

Yatun Sastramidjaja, a visiting fellow at the institute and an author of study, said it was a "worrying trend". 

"First, because it indicates the government's chronic failure to gain the public's trust," she said.

"There is [also] a long-established general distrust in the government's motives, which is seen to prioritise the interests of elites rather than those of the general population.

"Second, in a climate of distrust, confusion and growing fears, religious micro-influencers can offer their followers a sense of refuge by nurturing faith in the protective power of religion and the bigger plan of the Almighty." 

an example of mixed messaging was when the government put restrictions on people participating in Eid celebrations but allowed visits to tourist attractions.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-04/indonesia-herd-stupidity-epidemiologist-covid-19-coronavirus/100260404

no hospitals

Mismanagement/Lockdown hesitancy

Mr Widodo and his administration have long been criticised domestically for prioritising the economy.

While many countries, including Australia, were gearing up to close their borders when the virus first hit, Mr Widodo instead spent close to $8 million to promote domestic tourism 

Jokowi feared for the economy

As Indonesia approached its biggest holiday, Eid al-Fitr, in late May, authorities were hesitant to prevent citizens carrying out the traditional mass exodus to their hometowns, known locally as Mudik.

Almost exactly two weeks after the holiday, daily cases jumped above 1,000 for the first time.

Cases have now surpassed 225,000 and Indonesia has the highest death toll in the region.

Yet at the beginning of September, the director-general of Indonesia's health ministry, Abdul Kadir, warned against reimposing restrictions, saying it would deepen Indonesia's economic woes.

Low testing

Extreme shortage of ventilators, PPE, hospital beds

Difficulty in distribution

Delta variant 

The more infectious Delta variant of the virus has chocked hospitals across South-East Asia, and Indonesia is no exception.

A new wave of infections seems to have emerged following the celebration of Eif (this month), despite a government campain to stop people from travelling home during the Muslim holiday.

As the number of cases surged, so did the price and availability of oxygen tanks, with prices jumping from an average of $66 to $185.

Indonesia is banking on mass vaccinations as a means of tackling the virus, but only 13.3 million of the 181.5 million targeted for inoculation have received the required two doses since January.

But the record numbers are believed to be a severe undercount due to low testing rates and limited contact tracing.

With the Muslim Eid holiday coming up, doctors and epidemiologists now fear the lockdown might not be enough to stop cases from surging.

[Last week, the world's fourth most populous nation rolled out tighter restrictions, including shutting down shopping malls, restaurants and offices in its hard-hit capital Jakarta, across densely populated Java and on holiday island Bali.

It later extended a web of less severe restrictions across the 5,100 kilometre-long archipelago, from Sumatra in the west to easternmost Papua.

And there are fears that Eid al-Adha celebrations, which start next week, could spark another explosion in cases across the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.]]]

1. 1.Bagaimana kondisi covid di Indonesia saat ini?
2. 2.Menagapa bisa dalam konsidi seperti ini? Apakah hanya karena varian dela? Apa ada banyak unsur yg lain?
   1. 1.Apakah karena banyak orang mudik saat idul fitri?
   2. 2.Apa pendapat Ibu ttng Fake news, pengobatan alternative yg heboh di beritakan seperti susu bear brand
   3. 3.Bgm dengan pesan dari pemerintah Indonesia ttng kovid? Apa sudah cukup selama ini?
3. 3.Apakah PPKM  telah efektif dan akan membantu nomor kasus? Apa sudah terlalu telat?
4. 4.Kapankah nomer kasus akan di prediksikan mulai menurun?
5. 5.Apkah ada concern atau (prihatin) terhadap nomor kasus naik lagi dari karena idul adha?
6. 6.Ada lagi yg menurut Ibu penting untuk di bahas?