Tito Karnavian Googles 'How Pandemic Ends' and Finds 3 Scenarios

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, in an official Youtube video on Sunday, explained three scenarios that would help end the COVID-19 pandemic which according to the minister, was discovered after he randomly surfed the internet and googled “how pandemic ends.”

The three scenarios, according to Tito Karnavian’s internet search, include mass-vaccinations, herd immunity, and the natural viral weakening due to mutation. He opined about the first scenario:

“Clearly, the first scenario [the pandemic would end] is the discovery of a vaccine. But the question is that who can guarantee when the vaccine would be found,” said Tito Karnavian from the Home Affairs Ministry’s official video that is originally a video to justify the decision to keep on holding the 2020 Simultaneous Regional Elections (Pilkada). 

The second scenario is the herd immunity, which is indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to infection. Tito noted the Black Death pandemic in the 14th century that killed over 100 million people in Europe and Central Asia. 

The third scenario he mentioned is the natural weakening of the COVID-19 virus due to mutation and mentioned avian influenza as an example. “Until this day influenza still exists, but it isn’t as frightening,” said the former Indonesian National Police Chief. 

Through the three scenarios and the uncertainty when the coronavirus pandemic would end, Tito Karnavian said the government has reflected on other nations that continue to host regional elections despite being amid a global crisis.

Read also: Minister Tito Karnavian Bans Convoys During Election Registration

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