Age restrictions in the new era

LIMITATION OF AGE IN THE NEW NORMAL ERA

By: GPB Suka  Arjawa

There is a very socially useful article from Professor of IPB, Antonius Suwanto in Kompas Daily, 3 June 2020, entitled "Lockdown and Herd Immunity". I tried to interpret the writing, that easing of the PSBB was possible and that the new normal would also be better to help the government. At present the government is at a loss because if strict social restrictions continue, the economy will not move and Indonesia's debt will potentially increase. The new corona virus is dangerous, especially for those who are elderly, children and those who have side diseases. However, it is relatively not too dangerous for those who are energetic and young. It was said that the possibility of those who were young, if infected with the virus, would recover soon. The data might also indicate this.

Thus, please those who are still young, maybe between the ages of 20-50 years, return to their activities, especially in the economic field to drive the economic sector of Indonesia which is currently in decline. But with strict requirements in accordance with the protocol issued by the government. While those in the age range of 50-65 must understand themselves well, and have situational options for activities with very strict protocols. Above that age, please stay at home, waiting for the Covid-19 curve to slide or even disappear. Thus the easing of the PSBB or the new normal era is useful for activating the national economy, to help the government and all of us.

So, all policies regarding normal later, both at central and regional levels, should include the age criteria for activation. Especially also in government agencies. A dangerous outbreak of harm like Kovid-19 must teach many people to understand each other to understand this kind of policy, for the sake of shared health.

Homework that must be done by the government if it has to implement the new normal, is not easy either. The picture three months after the outbreak, shows how difficult it is to manage, even the difficulty of helping the community to maintain their health (this is our picture after 75 years of independence?). The tendency that is seen in the public is undisciplined even do not know about what the corona virus really is. They are ignorant of everything that smells of government appeals, with the excuse that they are active for work and work can carry out domestic life.

For some reason this reason is justified. But in it contained acute social problems. In terms of relations with power, those who continue to carry out these activities may be said to be those who do not comply with power. This is a small seed of rejection of all the rules issued by the government, which if left unchecked, can become agents of broader violators. If possible, groups like this should be mapped economically, environmentally and perhaps culturally so that the government (whoever it is) can be able to take steps to foster. It could be that the factor of "defiance" was carried out because of economic pressure. However, any pressure is called, but the foundation is health. And the government's recommendation is for health.

At the time of the new normal application, groups or people like this must also be seen. Because, if in the early days they were brave enough to disobey suggestions, including health protocols, when they were just normal, they would be more willing to commit violations. It is not impossible they consider this new normal as old normal, and in their actions they will do it without fulfilling the health protolol at all. Be careful about this because it will inspire others to disobey suggestions. If the central government dares to be "opposed", then subordinate governments, even the lowest (villages and traditional villages) will be considered trivial by groups of people like this. All of our efforts to reduce the spread of the new corona virus will stagnate and fail due to violations like this.

For the government, this phenomenon is not only a lesson to be more alert but also a criticism of its own. The large number of violations committed can be caused by a bad start. There is a dichotomy in the discourse that this virus is dangerous but on the other hand there is a government discourse that this illness will be cured independently, also encouraging ignorance towards the outbreak.

The second thing that must be seen is that this violation of appeals reflects that quite a number of community members do not understand what the virus means to others.

In cultural language, Indonesian people are often identified with mutual cooperation and religious attitudes. But this violation of the government prohibition shows that some of our people do not understand the extent to which the mutual assistance is implemented. The essence of mutual cooperation is to ease the burden of other parties (friends, neighbors, including others). By helping with their work, it means easing the burden on that person. Mutual cooperation during the covid outbreak is by staying at home, obeying health protocols, not hanging around feeling strong everywhere. That's how we help ease the burden on others. Wandering it has the potential to burden, even spread the disease not only to neighbors but also others.

What's worse is the problem of religiosity. Imagine, in Indonesia people are very orderly and obedient to pray. The greatest test of petition that appears at prayer is asking for safety and health for yourself and others. Because of the importance of health and safety, people do not dare to violate the rules and procedures of worship. Maybe so that God is not angry (is God angry?).

But what happened during the Covid-19 pandemic? In fact, the offenders are the challengers of death, invitations of pain and calamity, a thesis which is the opposite of his request for prayer. How then do they practice their religion? ***

The writer is a lecturer in Sociology, FISIP Udayana University.