TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner for monitoring and investigation, Chairul Anam, opined that the enforcement of the ‘new normal’ was among factors that worsened the COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, instead of improving the economy.

“The status of new normal brings poor results for our health recovery,” said Anam in a discussion via a teleconference on Tuesday, July 28.

Anam said that his side received various scientific journals and experts’ statements that there are minimum requirements a region could enforce the new normal, such as the decreasing number in positive cases, people’s movement that has been under control, up to the readiness in medical equipment and health workers.

However, before meeting those conditions, the government enforced the ‘new normal’, which eventually worsened public discipline and solidarity.

At the beginning of the pandemic, people fully complied with the large-scale social restriction (PSBB) order, and the transmission rate was deemed low. But as the restrictions relaxed, the number of virus infections jumped.

“That is a setback we clearly see,” Anam remarked, mentioning that the COVID-19 positive cases in Indonesia hit 100,000, exceeded China, the first epicenter of the virus.

“There must be progressive realization as in the context of Komnas HAM. The longer the time flies, the better the handling, not worse,” Anam said.

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EGI ADYATAMA