The Successes and Failures in Managing Covid-19 Outbreak in Asia Pacific Region (A Comparative Study of China and Indonesia)

Even before the case counts began to climb, China's virtual economic standstill was already quick to take its toll, disrupting trade, travel, and supply chains throughout the region. Which later followed by on 23 January 2020, the central government of China applied a lockdown in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei as an effort to quarantine the center of an outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). That is the very first action taken by the China's government also, travel restrictions were also imposed on the nearby cities. The World Health Organization called the Wuhan lockdown "unprecedented" and said it showed "how committed the authorities are to contain a viral breakout". However, WHO clarified that the move is not a recommendation that WHO had made and authorities have to wait and see how effective it is. The WHO has separately stated that the possibility of locking down an entire city like this is new to science.

After applying the lockdown in the Hubei Province. There is other action taken by China Government seriously in the very first of this pandemic. It is by built the Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan. It is an emergency specialty field hospital constructed from 23 January 2020 to 2 February 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The hospital was ready to use just in 10 days with accommodates 1,000 beds which spans over an area of around 60,000 m2 and consists of 2 floors. It has 30 intensive care units, medical equipment rooms, and quarantine wards.

            While Indonesia government at the very beginning on 2 March 2020, President of Indonesia Mr. Joko Widodo announced the first and second positive case of being infected with a new coronavirus, or Covid-19 disease, in Indonesia. It was later discovered that two people (a 31 years-old woman and her 64 years-old mother) Which it is not based on the procedure that the President made a public announcement before health officials notified them directly regarding the issue. The very first action of Indonesia government was seeming not really serious and more likely to stay calm. Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto has called on the public to remain calm in the face of the possible spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), advising people to keep their body and mind pure so as to maintain immunity to avoid being infected with the fast-spreading virus, which originated in Wuhan, China. Terawan said preventing infection was easy, namely by keeping one's immune system strong because immunity "is the enemy of viruses". There is no vaccine for the pneumonia-like ailment as yet. The minister also urged the public not to panic, saying that in China, where confirmed coronavirus cases reached 2,744 on Monday, "only 2,000 of its 1.4 billion population" has fallen ill from the virus, while the rest were unaffected.

"Don't panic, don't be anxious. Just enjoy it. Eat well, live healthily. If you have a cough use a face mask. If we just sit all day without moving, our immunity will drop. Take a 15- to 30-minute walk," he said, "I'm sure that by not being restless, eating on time, drinking enough water and washing our hands before eating, we are facing [the phenomenon] properly."

It is a fact that time (January 2020) Indonesia is still has a status free from Covid-19 cases the Indonesia government initially try to take the advantages of the situation. After the cabinet meeting on 25 February 2020, President Jokowi issued four instructions to anticipate the impact of Covid-19 on the Indonesian economy, which included maximizing domestic conference activities, MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition), and increasing promotion for targeting foreign tourist markets looking for alternative tourist destinations due to cancel visiting China, Korea, and Japan (which at that time were the three most affected countries by Covid-19). At the same time, the government prepared 72 billion rupiah (5.2 million US dollars) to pay influential people on social media (influencers) to promote Indonesia as a tourist destination. While other countries are trying to slow the spread of Covid-19 by imposing travel restrictions, Indonesia instead encourages as many tourists as possible to visit. Instead of using state funds to inform the public about basic health prevention measures, the government plans to spend them on online tourism campaigns.

 How is China's management and policy to this compare to Indonesia?

 First, China directly try to create an international co-operation with the WHO (World Health Organization). By creating a "WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019". The overall goal of the Joint Mission was to rapidly inform national (China) and international planning on next steps in the response to the ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and on next steps in readiness and preparedness for geographic areas not yet affected.

The major objectives of the Joint Mission were first, to enhance understanding of the evolving Covid-19 outbreak in China and the nature and impact of ongoing containment measures, second, to share knowledge on Covid-19 response and preparedness measures being implemented in countries affected by or at risk of importations of Covid-19 also to generate recommendations for adjusting Covid-19 containment and response measures in China and internationally and to establish priorities for a collaborative program of work, research and development to address critical gaps in knowledge and response and readiness tools and activities. Inside the Mission Report of WHO-China Joint mission, it is mentioned about the response mechanism in China. Response activation at the national level: Covid-19 prevention and control mechanisms were initiated immediately after the outbreak was declared and nine working groups were set up to coordinate the response: a) Coordination b) Epidemic prevention and control c) Medical treatment d) Research e) Public communication f) Foreign affairs g) Medical material support h) Life maintenance supplies and i) Social stability. Each working group has a ministerial level leader. Emergency response laws and regulations for the emergency response to public health emergencies, prevention and control of infectious diseases have been developed or updated to guide the response.  While, response activation in provinces: Each province set up a similar structure to manage the outbreak. The response is organized at the levels of national, provincial, prefecture, county/district and the community. By 29 January 2020, all provinces across China had launched the highest level of response for major public health emergencies. A clear strategy was developed, and goals were well articulated and communicated across the entire response architecture. This strategy was rapidly adapted and adjusted to the outbreak, both in terms of the epidemiological situation over time and in different parts of the country.

While in Indonesia from the policy from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Which issued in the March 2020 (1 month later after China action) Indonesia continues to closely observe WHO situation report on developments of the Covid-19 virus outbreak around the world. According to the latest WHO report, there is currently a significant increase of Covid-19 cases outside China, particularly in three countries: Iran, Italy, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). In the interest of public health, Indonesia has issued a temporary measure for incoming visitors/travelers from the three said countries as follows: First, suspend entry or transit in Indonesia to incoming visitors/travelers who have travelled to the following cities/regions in the last 14 days. Iran: City of Tehran and Qom as well as the Province of Gilan, Italy: Region of Lombardi, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Marche, and Piedmont, South Korea: City of Daegu and Province of Gyeongsangbuk-do.

 Second, for all visitors/travelers from outside the aforementioned areas in Iran, Italy, and South Korea, a health certificate issued by the official Health Authorities from each respective country will be required. The Health Certificate must still be valid and shown to the airline's authorities upon check-ins. Without a certificate from the Health Authority, the said visitors/travelers will not be permitted to enter or transit to Indonesia.

Third, prior to landing, visitors/travelers arriving from the three said countries are required to complete a Health Alert Card (Kartu Kewaspadaan Kesehatan) issued by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. The Health Alert Card consists of questions regarding the visitor's travel history. If the visitor/s have travelled in one of the aforementioned regions in the last 14 days, the said visitor will not be permitted to enter or transit to Indonesia. Last, for Indonesian nationals who have recently travelled to one of the abovementioned countries, especially in the said regions, an additional health examination is required upon arrival at the airport. A week later the minister of foreign affairs released the addition of the policy such as adding more countries to the travel band (entry to Indonesia) and also adding more complex regulations to the tourist visa and foreign visitors.