https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2020/09/02/medics-dying-infections-soaring-its-still-the-economy.html
Medics dying, infections soaring — it’s still the economy? Esther Samboh The Jakarta Post Jakarta / Wed, September 2, 2020 / 02:05 pm Cross to bear: A grave digger writes the name of a deceased COVID-19 victim on a cross at Pondok Ranggon public cemetery, East Jakarta, on Monday, while a burial proceeds in the background. Up to 40 people are buried in the cemetery every day. (JP/P.J. Leo) There are many things I don’t know about in life, but this strikes me as the biggest puzzle today: Why are we being told to embrace the “new normal” when more people are dying and getting infected? Are we supposed to go out and about, put ourselves and others at risk of infection, when the government has yet to solve issues related to Indonesia’s healthcare system? Hospitals are filling up. A hundred doctors have died. There are only few beds left for intensive care units in hospitals across Jakarta. The COVID-19 infection rate soared to new highs for three consecutive days last week. The campaign for new normal is probably one of the most successful efforts the government has made as far as COVID-19 is concerned. Densely populated Jakarta, the most infected in the country, looks to have returned to pre-pandemic times. “It’s the economy, stupid,” chimes louder than ever before, lending the quote from Bill Clinton’s campaign strategist James Carville. Southeast Asia’s largest economy, which is dominated by economically vulnerable and informal workers, can’t afford to massively restrict movements of the people. By opting for no lockdown, the Indonesian government has preferred to sacrifice thousands dying instead of millions going hungry if busy cities go into lockdown. The biggest question is, can they really prevent millions from starvation? Recent inflation data show purchasing power has been extremely weak up to August. At 1.32 percent year-on-year, the August inflation rate is the lowest in the past two decades. Government estimates also show 5.5 million people may lose their jobs this year, while 4 million may fall into poverty.
