Millennials Asked Not to Underestimate COVID-19 Pandemic

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - With the millennial generation being widely considered to be unconcerned with the COVID-19 outbreak, the President's special staff, Adamas Belva Syah Devara, has called on Indonesia's millennial generation not to underestimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We must be aware, do not underestimate COVID-19 as harmless," he said at the COVID-19 Task Force press conference at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Building, Jakarta, on Monday, March 23, 2020.

Furthermore, Adamas calls out millennials underestimating COVID-19 as wrong and irresponsible. "It may not be a danger for you, but it is a danger for parents, grandmothers, and vulnerable groups," said the Stanford and Harvard University graduate.

In spite of the government enforcing social distancing policies to curb the outbreak, personally, Adamas admits to the fact that millennials socializing in public spaces is still a common sight. 

As a result, Adamas hopes that the millennial generation would care more for themselves and their surroundings to stop the spread of the virus through a number of actions, including maintaining physical distance from one another.

"I'm actually really forced to come here because I usually work at home," he added.

In addition, he also suggested for millennials to maintain communication with one another through online video calls, games, and so on. According to him, maintaining online engagement will aid millennials committing to social distancing to remain entertained at home.

ANTARA