WEST JAVA’S “MICRO-LOCKDOWN” STRATEGY IN HANDLING COVID-19

Abstract

West Java, like other regions, has had disaster management agencies prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In dealing with this, the West Java Provincial Government carries out various programs and activities to identify each threat and make contingency plans, and undertakes education, dissemination and publication for the public to recognize the types of threats and risks in order to minimize casualties. To resist or to defend yourself from the attack of COVID-19, there’s a strategy likened to a fortress. A healthy lifestyle is also tightened by following directions and education from the government on how to live a healthy life, and how and what this COVID-19 attack is that must be avoided by maintaining distance, using masks, and washing hands with soap in running water. West Java has implemented three strategies in handling COVID-19, namely preventive measures, tests (tracking), and improvement of health facilities. Meanwhile, the leading program of the implemented strategy is the application of “microlockdown”. The West Java Province COVID-19 Task Force has initiated a Micro-Scale Social Restriction (PSBM) pilot. Areas experiencing an increase in positive cases or having new positive cases are managed in a focused manner. Public health interventions include dissemination, rapid examination and swab tests, regional quarantine, distribution of logistics, health monitoring involving all elements of the task force, local officials, and other support. From this handling of COVID-19, we can learn how West Java has implemented three strategies in handling COVID-19, namely preventive measures, tests (tracking), and the improvement of health facilities. Meanwhile, the leading program of the implemented strategy is the application of “micro-lockdown”. At this time, the West Java Provincial Government is still implementing response efforts. Adaptation of new habits is slowly being implemented to revive the economic sector of the citizens.