Dear Readers,
Ending February, Jakarta welcomed a long night of heavy rainfall which resulted in the city flooding once again – though not as severely as January 1, 2020 flood. Then welcoming in March, COVID-19, caused by novel coronavirus, reached Indonesia and has so far infected two Indonesian citizens, confirmed by President Joko Widodo on March 2. The president remarked that he received a report from the health minister regarding these two Indonesian citizens. Currently, both are undergoing treatment and their care team is following applicable health standards and protocols.
Even during the nation’s efforts to steer clear from the virus, medical masks are either overpriced at your nearest pharmacy or out of stock. The Jakarta Metropolitan Police even discovered illegal manufacturing of medical masks earlier this month!
Many people need to wear masks to protect themselves because they are in very close contact with sick people all day long. These include doctors and nurses at clinics and hospitals, as well as someone who’s taking care of a sick person at home. But wearing a mask in public, when you are a healthy person, is a very much less effective way to avoid catching the virus.
Imagine this: ten people are on a train and one of them is sick; if every healthy person wears a mask, except for that sick person, the sick person’s infectious droplets get everywhere. They land on everyone’s masks, hair, clothes, mobile phones, hands, shoes, bags, and even on the train seats and handles too! It’s all too easy for all the nine people to get infected after that, when they breathe in droplets when removing their clothes, touching objects to their faces after removing their mask, and other people touching their things too. However, if that one sick person wears a mask, the infectious droplets are contained, and everyone is safe.
Please don’t waste masks! If you’re sick, but have to go out in public areas, please do wear a mask. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that “masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitisers or soap and water. If you do wear one, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.”
The hospitals that are equipped to test and treat you in Jakarta, if you suspect you have the virus, are RSPI Dr. Sulianti Saroso (Jalan Baru Sunter Permai), RSU Persahabatan (Jalan Persahabatan Raya), and RSPAD Gatot Soebroto (Jalan Dr. A Rahman Saleh No.24, Central Jakarta). You can also reach the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 hotline Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) via 021-5210411 and 0812-1212-3119.
Keep your eye on indonesiaexpat.biz for further updates on coronavirus and COVID-19 in Indonesia. As for this edition, allow Indonesia Expat to uplift your mood with fascinating travels ideas, entertainment, and so on – stress can be a factor in a decreased immune system. Stay calm and take care of yourselves.
Happy reading! Edo Frese