TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the national Covid-19 mitigation task force, Doni Monardo, stated that many Indonesians still do not understand about a new normal concept. Some even think that they can return to do their activities as usual as before the virus outbreak.

“The term of a new normal has not been fully understood by the public,” said Doni in a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission X on Wednesday, June 17.

Doni assessed that people in regions need a different way to acknowledge a new normal. Thus, he called for the role of public figures in each region to explain the coronavirus-related terms in their respective language.

“We hope every figure in each region can use the right language, including the use of local languages,” said Doni, who is also the head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Other than the 'new normal' term, Doni mentioned terms of 'social distancing' and 'physical distancing'.

Indonesia, he went on, has a huge social capital, which is mutual cooperation, in order to control and curb the risk of Covid-19 transmission. All elements have a responsibility to remind the public that the threat of the pandemic has not ended yet.

Doni further admitted that there are many people who neglect and are not disciplined in complying with the predetermined health protocols, such as wearing face masks, practicing physical distancing, and washing hands regularly.

Read: New Normal; Parents Asked to Train Kids in Health Protocols

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI