Epidemiologist Questions Govt's Flattening the Curve Challenge

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono, questioned the plan of the Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian to hold a competition for regional administrations to flatten the curve of Covid-19 cases.

“What is the competition for? [The regions] should be helped,” Pandu told Tempo on Tuesday, June 23.

Instead of holding such a challenge, he opined that the government should assist regional administrations in containing the new coronavirus by suppressing the virus transmission based on the condition of each region.

The central government, Pandu added, could provide technical aid, such as increasing the testing capacity, contact tracing, and isolation. “[Assistances related to] public health surveillance that must be implemented.”

Previous reports suggested that Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian planned to hold a competition on flattening the curve of the positive cases for regional administrations. According to the Minister, the central government would calculate which regions are the fastest in curbing the infection cases within the past one to two months.

The winner would receive a prize of incentive funds from the Finance Ministry. As for the detail of the competition, Tito said that it was still being deliberated with the Covid-19 mitigation task force, the Health Ministry, the Finance Ministry.

FRISKI RIANA