Prepare for new normal, Indonesians told
Published on: Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Jokowi says Indonesians will have to follow the new health protocols to safeguard against the spread of the coronavirus.
JAKARTA: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked Indonesians, and businesses entities in particular, to prepare to coexist with Covid-19, which would necessitate a new normal of social distancing and observance of health protocols.For the country, which has been battling the pandemic since early March this year, finding ways to coexist with Covid-19 would not imply giving up the fight against the deadly virus, he asserted.ADVERTISEMENT
Instead, it would involve carrying out normal activities peacefully, safely, productively, and comfortably by following the new health protocols to safeguard against coronavirus spread, as, currently, no vaccines have been developed against the infection.
The safety of the public must remain priority, the President remarked.
In preparation for the transition toward a new normal amid the lingering pandemic, the government is drafting protocols for various activities to ensure that people stay safe and healthy, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said.
“This will be discussed in detail and will be decided by the President. We are now studying the concept technically and comprehensively,” Airlangga said, adding that the new normal will demand strong discipline on part of the public.ADVERTISEMENT
In Jakarta, the country’s capital and Covid-19 epicentre, Governor Anies Bawesdan has projected that normalcy will be restored and local residents will resume activities after the third round of large-scale social distancing (PSBB) ends.
“If we all remain disciplined, Jakarta can return to a new normal. Many people usually call it a new normal to refer to a new situation instead of a pre-pandemic situation,” he remarked at the Jakarta City Hall on May 20, 2020.
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However, Jakarta residents are expected to not reduce their adherence to a disciplined lifestyle under new normal conditions, he said.
“This (Covid-19 fight) is not yet over. I want to underscore that there is no relaxation. Do not think it is relaxed. Do not feel that it is over,” he cautioned.
Achmad Yurianto, the government’s spokesperson for Covid-19 response, has also reiterated that amid the ongoing pandemic, the public will have to adapt to a new normal, while being productive.
“We need to still be productive, while prioritising principles to protect ourselves from Covid-19. This then would become a fundamental behaviour change for all of us, and this is what we are calling the new normal,” he explained.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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People, he said, need to get used to practising health protocols, such as keeping a safe distance from others, using masks, and selectively choosing appropriate moments to leave home.
As for businesses, State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir has ordered all state-owned companies to set up Covid-19 task forces and prepare guidelines for the implementation of the new normal.