Review and analysis of current responses to COVID-19 in Indonesia: Period of January to March 2020

TLDR

The COVID‑19 pandemic has placed global pressure, and Indonesia’s large population makes it especially vulnerable to significant impact. The study aims to detail and analyze Indonesia’s rapid COVID‑19 responses from January to March 2020. The authors conducted a rapid media content analysis of government speeches, reports, and social media to highlight responses by government, NGOs, and communities and identify gaps. The analysis revealed gaps and limitations in the responses and yielded five recommendations for more rapid, effective, and comprehensive action.

Abstract

The world is under pressure from the novel COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world and predicted to be affected significantly over a longer time period. Our paper aims to provide detailed reporting and analyses of the present rapid responses to COVID-19, between January and March 2020, in Indonesia. We particularly highlight responses taken by the governments, non-government organisations and the community. We outline gaps and limitations in the responses, based on our rapid analysis of media contents, from government speeches and reports, social and mass media platforms. We present five recommendations toward more rapid, effective, and comprehensive responses.