Indonesia’s COVID-19 emergency. A product of public apathy and lax government?

As the Red Cross declared its fear that Indonesia is on the brink of a COVID-19 disaster the Indonesian president Joko Widodo announced that Indonesia will implement emergency society activity restrictions (PPKM darurat) in Bali and Java that will run from 03-20 July. What has caused the emergency measures?

Indonesians love to go back to their home towns at the end of Ramadan but it was not allowed to during the pandemic. However, they have received mixed messages. Source: Image by Bro Fahroe/Creative Commons

Hospitals are overwhelmed, people are dying at home and there are reports that oxygen stocks are low.  Dr Corona Rintawan is an emergency specialist and chairperson of the Muhammadiyah COVID-19 command centre.  He describes to Sri Dean the current crisis and explains why this situation has come about.

Listen to SBS Indonesian every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 3 pm. Follow us on Facebook and catch us on podcasts.

And you can keep abreast of the latest information about the corona virus in your language at sbs.com.au/coronavirus

People are being turned away from hospitals in Java. Hospitals were full to the brim and oxygen supplies critically low. Source: Image by bastamanography/Creative Commons