COVID-19: Brief overview of Risk Governance Approach from South East Asia (Part Two)
Risk Governance during any disaster is considered to be the role of government agencies. The pandemic of COVID-19 is a major global emergency crisis in the contemporary times. The cases of COVID-19 rising alarmingly throughout the world. Up until March 31st 2020, Coronavirus has infected 802,556, with 39,012 deaths and 172,319 recovered based on COVID-19 monitor data.
As a response to the COVID-19 outbreak, most countries’ have taken several bold measures targeted towards health recovery and virus containment. These interventions vary country to country. Some of the significant measures witnessed include: travel bans on immigration and emigration to outbreak hot spots, screening at ports of entry, school closures, nation-wide lockdown and restrictions on gatherings, amongst many others.
In this blog we bring brief overview of Policy Actions taken by Government in two of the South East Asian countries: Indonesia and Malaysia.
Case of Indonesia
The first confirmed COVID-19 case in Indonesia was announced on 2nd March,’20. After WHO declared COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Indonesian government started immigration entry screening at international ports. This was to identify symptomatic travelers for further diagnosis and treatment. It was observed that this was not too effective for preventing the spread as not all the ports were conducting strict entry screening.
Due to the drastic increase in cases, the government formed the Coronavirus Emergency Task Force at the national level. This branches down to local levels: named Gugus Tugas COVID-19. This task force is led by the head of BNPB (National Disaster Management Authority). At the national level, this body of authority ratifies and executes the COVID-19 operational plan, as well as coordinates and oversees the implementation.
As a countermeasure, the government declared a 91-day emergency period of COVID-19 outbreak from 29th February 2020 until May 29, 2020. During this emergency period, the government emphasizes on practicing social distancing & restricts public gatherings (including religious events). The Ministry of Education has implemented school and university closures. The government has urged residents to restrict activities outside of their homes, except for very urgent matters. However, public transportation, public services, community health centers as well as mayoral and gubernatorial offices remain open.
To boost the economy, the Indonesian government plans to release stimulus packages as large as 33.2 trillion rupiah (about 0.2 percent of GDP). This monetary fund is prioritized to:
- Secure the health and welfare of its citizens;
- Provide support and social welfare for low-income households;
- Provide protection for businesses
During the preliminary emergency period, this fund is set to focus on:
- Testing for infected patients;
- Increasing the capacity of hospitals;
- Provide availability for the necessary medicine and health equipment
As on 29 March 2020, the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform has released a Ministerial Circular Letter №36 2020 for government officials, concerning limitations on traveling outside of an emergency.
Further policies are still being reviewed. On the national level, there is still a debate on whether or not the government should apply a regional quarantine. Each province in Indonesia may have a slightly different policy. Some local governments have blocked access to their area, preventing people from returning to their hometown, to contain the transmission.
Case of Malaysia
COVID-19 has come at a time when Malaysia is still recovering from its financial catastrophe, the 1MDB scandal. This has put a question mark on Malaysia’s financial health.
The first wave of COVID-19 was marked with reporting of cases with travel history from abroad. Around the 5th of March’20, a domestic case was reported. This was the beginning of the second wave. This took place because Malaysians coming from abroad continued to travel and attend mass gatherings.
Following the sudden increase in the number of cases, the government announced the Movement Control Order (MCO) from 18th March 2020. MCO is presently entering the second phase that is to be implemented till 14th of April 2020. MCO has brought majority of the economic activities to a standstill. The purpose of the MCO is to reduce in-person contact through 3 main actions:
i) shutting down government and private premises — especially those that fall under non-essential services;
ii) travel ban;
iii) restricted movement within Malaysia.
However even the essential services are to operate with minimum staff. Under MCO intra-and inter-country movement is restricted. The visitors/non-citizens are not allowed to enter the country under travel ban. Malaysians residing overseas are allowed to return and have to undergo medical examination upon arrival, and self-quarantine for 14 days. Restricted movement in the country includes no public gatherings (including socio-religious gatherings and recreational activities).
With these efforts thus far, the authorities have managed to identify sixteen COVID-19 hotspots in Malaysia. Determining these hotspots, have allowed the government to enforce the control over the situation as well as to carry out the door-to-door Covid-19 detection activities.
To further enforce the MCO, the Armed Forces have been deployed to assist police nationwide, especially in high-risk areas like supermarkets. With the MCO in place, Malaysia’s healthcare system is able to treat Covid-19 patients and existing patients accordingly. Moreover, Economic Stimulus Packages (ESP) have been introduced too, as an effort to ease the difficulties being faced by the nation.
References:
- https://www.kemenkeu.go.id/covid19
- https://www.menpan.go.id/site/berita-foto/konferensi-pers-kebijakan-lanjutan-wfh-dan-larangan-mudik-bagi-asn
- https://jakartaglobe.id/vision/screening-for-coronavirus-at-soekarnohatta-airport
- https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19#I
- https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/03/26/14294551/pemerintah-keluarkan-rp-1582-triliun-untuk-tangani-wabah-covid-19
This article is contributed by: Dr. Azliyana Azhari & Ms. Farhana Shukhor from Malaysia and Ms. Fitra & Ms. Destrikurnia from Indonesia
Special mentions to our reviewers: Dr. Ranit Chatterjee, Dr. Repaul Kanji & Ms. Ambika Dabral from India for their support
