The head of state noted in Jakarta on Tuesday that the Reproduction Number (R0), describing the intensity of COVID-19 outbreak, in several Indonesian provinces had dropped below 1.
The R0 plunging below 1 can be interpreted as the virus or bacteria transmission being quite low and the disease will die out in a population. If the R0 is greater than 1, it would indicate that the transmission rate is still high and that the disease will spread. For instance, if R0 is 2, it means that one COVID-19 infected person can potentially transmit the virus to two other healthy individuals.
"We see that the R0 in some provinces has dropped to below 1, and we are optimistic of it continuing to go down as the days pass by since national military and police forces are also massively deployed on the field," he remarked while observing the health protocol and PSBB period enforcements at the Bundaran HI MRT Station in Jakarta.
President Jokowi had drawn attention to heavy deployment of military (TNI) and police personnel in crowded places as a disciplinary measure to ensure public adherence to the health protocol under the PSBB.
"Starting today, military and police personnel will be deployed at crowded places in a bid to discipline the public to follow the health protocol in accordance with the PSBB rules," the head of state noted.
The head of state revealed that security personnel will be deployed in four provinces and 25 districts and cities that have imposed PSBB.
Public discipline in applying social restrictions is expected to flatten the curve of the novel coronavirus transmission in the country, he emphasized.
Additionally, TNI Commander in Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto expounded that the disciplinary health protocols will be applied in 1,800 points spread across four provinces -- DKI Jakarta, West Sumatra, West Java, and Gorontalo -- and 25 districts and/or cities that have implemented PSBB.
"Discipline is being enforced in stages, such as now at community traffic sites and the train station, and later this afternoon, the president also plans to visit a place of commerce, especially where food is sold in the Bekasi area," he remarked.
In observing the enforcement of discipline in adherence to the health protocol, President Jokowi was accompanied by TNI Commander-in-Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police Chief General Idham Azis.
The government has earlier contemplated on allowing citizens' activities to commence in a new normal scenario while still following health protocols to prevent the transmission of COVID-19
Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto has issued guidelines on steps to acclimatize to the new normal.
The guideline is stipulated in Minister of Health Decree Number HK.01.07 / MENKES / 328/2020 on COVID-19 Prevention and Control Guidelines in Offices and Industrial Workplaces in Supporting Business Sustainability in Pandemic Situations.
EDITED BY INE
