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Responding to the New Covid-19 Variant

A year after we entered the Covid-19 pandemic, the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be more distant. According to data issued by the Covid-19 task force, it seems that we have reached the peak of the Covid-19 curve. However, after the global curve flattened drastically, it seems to be rising again slowly. Data from the task force shows that the peak of the curve was reached on Jan. 30, 2021, when the number of new daily cases reached a high of 14,518. By March 13, the number of daily cases had dropped dramatically to 4,607. For comparison, at the same time, Brazil surpassed India to become the second-worst-hit country from Covid-19 pandemic. According to data from the Worldometers website from 19 March, the first place was still held by the United States with 30,357,255 cases, nearly 10 percent of the US population of 332 million.

Menyikapi Varian Baru Covid-19

Menghadapi ancaman varian virus yang baru, mau tak mau kita harus mengulang ajakan klise: perbanyak ”tracing” dan ”testing” spesimen, patuhi protokol kesehatan dan pemerintah tegas dalam penegakan tanpa pandang bulu. Setelah satu tahun pandemi Covid-19 kita lalui, titik terang terasa menjauh lagi. Merujuk ke data di Satgas Penanganan Covid-19, tampaknya memang puncak kurva telah kita lalui. Begitupun puncak kurva global sempat melandai drastis. Namun, pelan-pelan kurva itu naik lagi. Data Satgas menunjukkan, puncak kurva tercapai 30 Januari 2021, saat penambahan kasus harian sebanyak 14.518 kasus baru, dan 13 Maret lalu penambahan kasus harian turun drastis menjadi 4.607 kasus baru. Sebagai pembanding, pada saat yang sama, Brasil sedang menyalip India dalam perebutan ranking kedua negara dengan kasus positif terbanyak di dunia. Data Worldometer 19 Maret, peringkat pertama masih tetap dipegang Amerika Serikat dengan 30.357.255 kasus, hampir 10 persen dari penduduk AS yang 332 juta.

Vaccine-induced and Natural Immunity

Which is more effective, immunity that is induced by vaccination or immunity acquired after being infected with Covid-19? This question is important to raise after Covid-19 has exceeded the positive rate of a million, triggering the government to take the pandemic more seriously. Vaccination is being intensified. The first phase for healthcare workers is under way and will soon be followed by the next group of priority recipients. The government also imposes public activity restrictions (PPKM), with several provinces applying micro-scale PPKM, which are watched over by the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), the National Police and even the Indonesian Military. This indicates the government’s greater awareness of mobility restrictions as an important pillar to prevent the spread of infection besides increasing testing and tracing. We certainly should not ignore the criticism of some epidemiologists about the presence of data on millions of affected people that are claimed to be hidden.

Imunitas Vaksinasi dan Alami

Vaksinasi bisa jadi ”booster” (penguat) dari kekebalan alami setelah lolos dari terinfeksi. Secara umum vaksinasi aman dan potensi risikonya sangat sedikit. Ampuh manakah, kekebalan yang terbentuk dari vaksinasi dengan kekebalan setelah terinfeksi Covid-19? Pertanyaan ini penting disampaikan setelah Covid-19 melampaui angka positif sejuta dan pemerintah terlihat tersentak serta semakin serius menangani pandemi. Vaksinasi digencarkan. Untuk tahap para tenaga kesehatan sudah berjalan, dan segera berlanjut ke penerima prioritas selanjutnya. Pemerintah juga memberlakukan PPKM (pemberlakuan pembatasan kegiatan masyarakat), beberapa provinsi menerapkan PPKM mikro yang dikawal satpol PP, polisi, bahkan TNI. Ini menandakan pemerintah makin menyadari pembatasan mobilitas adalah pilar penting untuk pencegahan meluasnya penularan, selain memperbanyak testing dan tracing. Tentu, kita tak boleh tutup mata terhadap kritik beberapa epidemiolog bahwa ada data sekian juta orang terpapar yang katanya disembunyikan.

Vaccination and Threat of Virus Mutation

The new chapter opened with the Covid-19 vaccine, which has buoyed public optimism, needs to be accompanied with honesty (and fairness) in government policies. The new chapter opened with the Covid-19 vaccine, which has buoyed public optimism, needs to be accompanied with honesty (and fairness) in government policies. The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency has issued emergency use authorization after the Indonesian Ulema Council stated that the Sinovac vaccine is halal. President Joko Widodo became the first person to receive a Sinovac shot on 14 January 2021 to set an example for Covid-19 immunization. A week earlier, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto as the chairman of the Committee for Covid-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery announced the enforcement of new large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for Java and Bali from 11-25 January. This is a good step, as well as a corrective one.