Alvin Lie: Soekarno-Hatta's Covid-19 Anticipation System Weak

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The coronavirus anticipation procedure at Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK) in Cengkareng, Banten, is seen as having many weaknesses. Indonesian Ombudsman member Alvin Lie particularly highlighted one weakness: the inspection stage by the Port Health Office (KKP).

Alvin said that there are not enough KKP personnel at the airport. They are short-staffed and each person has to do two things: checking the passengers' temperature and checking the Health Alert Cards (HAC) that are given to passengers.

"They are overwhelmed," Alvin said, Thursday, March 12.

Alvin told the Soekarno Hatta Airport KKP chief Anas Maruf to delegate the HAC checking to immigration staff.

Alvin also mentioned the weak coordination between KKP and PT Angkasa Pura II as the airport and airline manager. Alvin Lie said that they needed better scheduling between arrivals/landings and the break hours of KKP officers.

"They should not be resting when the planes arrive," he said.

SOE Minister Erick Thohir had inspected the procedure against coronavirus at Soekarno Hatta Airport. He said that although the number of confirmed cases continues to increase, there is no significant change at Indonesia's entry points.

"I think there are not many significant changes because Angkasa Pura I and II already have the facilities long before [the first confirmed cases]," Erick said at the Soekarno Hatta Airport, Wednesday, March 11.

The facilities Erick meant are the thermal scanner and the special room to examine passengers who have symptoms resembling that of coronavirus infection. Erick also monitors these tools one by one.

Acknowledging there were not many significant changes, Erick said the level of awareness must continue to increase. "We must not overreact, but improving is an obligation," he said.

Fajar Pebrianto