"The spate of transmissions will continue to rise unless and until communities adapt by applying strict health protocols in their daily lives during this new normal phase," Indonesian Red Cross Secretary General Sudirman Said said as recorded in a written statement issued by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and received here on Tuesday.
Under the "new normal" scenario, offices, schools, places of worship, malls, markets, and tourist attractions are reopening in some regions, as four months of large-scale social restrictions have been lifted.
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise rapidly in Indonesia, with over a thousand new cases being diagnosed daily over the past three weeks, with a record high of over 2,600 people infected by the coronavirus.
In response to this spike in cases, the Red Cross is actively sending stronger public messages through awareness campaigns to contain the transmission of the virus, especially as restrictions begin to ease in most of the country.
"We are intensifying our efforts to educate the public on the importance of changing behavior for good by following physical distancing, wearing masks, and practicing good hygiene habits," Sudirman explained.
"We are mobilizing our thousands of brave volunteers to work directly and safely with communities while reaching out on social media and across radio airwaves and loudspeakers," he stated.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesian Red Cross is mobilizing some seven thousand volunteers to offer crucial health services to 1.5 million people.
"These times are tough, but people are staying strong. The challenge is to effectively reach all our diverse communities living on six thousand inhabited islands. This calls for unified, unprecedented, and large-scale efforts to reach all parts of society and every corner of our country," Sudirman affirmed.
Volunteers have conducted health promotion activities for over five million people, with focus on eight priority provinces registering the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.
The endeavor has been supported by IFRC that launched a global appeal to provide support to the countries globally at the highest risk, including Indonesia.
"This global pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge, thereby necessitating global cooperation, but a local response is elicited," Jan Gelfand, IFRC’s head of Country Cluster Support Team, stated.
As Indonesia witnesses a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, Red Cross is doubling its efforts, utilizing all available resources to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
"Red Cross recognizes that individuals and communities have a critical role to play, and by changing their behavior, they can help to control COVID transmission in this new normal," Gelfand stated.
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EDITED BY INE
Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
