VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The end of 2021 still doesn't show the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even now, the world has to be more vigilant due to the emergence of new troubling variants.

It has been almost two years since the world first hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The death toll in various countries has been very large. Covid 19 has also had a major impact on the economy. Countries across the continent have spent huge amounts of money on the treatment of those affected by Covid 19, as well as on prevention through vaccines.

The threat of Covid19 has not yet ended until 2021 ends. Entering 2022, in various places there has been a decrease in the rate of transmission and death due to Covid 19. As in Indonesia, for example, there has been a significant decline. However, when the world began to take steps to enter the New Normal era, there was a threat of a new variant of Covid19.

The World Health Organization, WHO, on its official website, stated that there was a dangerous new variant. Starting out in South Africa and Botswana, a new variant called OMICRON is now spreading rapidly in Western Europe. Britain, which had originally begun to open its lockdown policy, now has to start a new vigilance. The country closed the door to the arrival of citizens from a number of countries that have been infected with Omicron. Although the impact of deaths from Omicron is said to be lower than the previous Covid-19 variant, namely Delta, the transmission rate is higher. In addition to Omicron and Delta, WHO has also identified other variants that are no less dangerous.

Entering the new year, people in various countries are still plagued with worries and even fears, not only because there is still Covid 19, but also due to dangerous new variants. Therefore, the international community still has to increase its vigilance, and must not be careless.

In Indonesia in particular, the Government in addition to trying to prevent and overcome it, must also try to implement various policies, so that economically, people's lives do not get worse.

If in some other regions across Indonesia, the rice crust is immediately thrown away. But, it is different in Manado, North Sulawesi. The local people actually turn the rice crust into delicious food by making ‘Nasi Tus-Tus’ or Tus-Tus Rice. In Manado language, Nasi Tus-Tus itself means rice crust. It is the main ingredient of rice baked in a bowl. Before baking, the white rice is covered with shredded skipjack tuna and of course, it’s Manado’s style spicy chili sauce.

Before tasting Nasi Tus-Tus, stir the rice first. The mixture of fish and chili sauce makes the red-brown rice dish, similar to fried rice. This dish will taste more delicious if eaten with Tamarind Fish whose sour taste is obtained from sliced green tomatoes. In addition to Tamarind Fish, you can also eat Nasi Tus-Tus with squid Woku Ink. Woku is a Manadonese style of cooking that consists of many spices, including scallions, shallots, garlic, basil leaves, ginger, and lime leaves.

For those of you who are interested in enjoying this culinary, please visit Manado, if the condition is conducive. There are many restaurants that sell this special culinary. The price of Nasi Tus-Tus is relatively cheap; it’s only from Rp 30,000 to Rp 40,000/portion. But if you taste this culinary with other side dishes, of course you have to pay more.

In this digital era, local governments take advantage of digital services, both through applications and social media to respond to public complaints. As what the Bandung City Government has done, this integrates all digital services in an application called ‘Smart City Sadayana’. This application is a one-stop service to access various online services provided by all Regional Apparatus Organizations, Bandung City Government. Acting Mayor of Bandung, Yana Mulyana said that the integration of digital services is an effort to provide convenience for the community so that the community can be served one door through Sadayana.

The service, which was launched on December 17, can be accessed via the smartcity.bandung.go.id and a mobile version is already available. The utilization of Sadayana is expected to be able to discuss several things that have been problems in the community. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, digital use has become the main medium in providing services. The concept of smart city services is not only about information technology, but also about an effort to suppress the spread of the virus by minimizing physical interaction. There are many features in the Sadayana application, such as 112, complaints, and there is also a chat board. To date, there have been around 5,000 people who have downloaded the mobile version.

Besides Sadayana, the Bandung city government also launched the Sigayapintar application (Integrated Prestigious Cultural Heritage Information System). This application makes it easier to access the existence of cultural heritage, empowers effective management and supervision, and becomes a reference for determining policies related to cultural heritage buildings.

President Joko Widodo appealed for all parties to welcome the New Year 2022 with a new spirit, noble soul and a heart full of love. The Head of State made the appeal when delivering his remarks at the 2021 National Christmas Celebration which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube, Monday (27/12). The President also called on all Indonesian people to build optimism, strengthen inner and outer endeavors, work hard and pray to grow and contribute to provide the greatest benefit to the society, nation and state.

On this occasion, President Joko Widodo also reminded that almost two years ago, the Indonesian people have faced a tough test, apart from facing the Covid-19 pandemic, concerns, grief, and trials have also been faced by the Indonesian people due to natural disasters in various regions. He hoped that these various tests will actually strengthen the brotherhood of all Indonesian people and make the Indonesian nation stronger and tougher. Thereby, the President did appeal to all people wherever they are to jointly do good things, promote solidarity and mutual cooperation, and work for humanitarian action throughout Indonesia.

President Joko Widodo's appeal should not only be welcomed, but also be realized by all Indonesian people. The evidence has shown that solidarity, mutual cooperation and working for humanitarian action is what makes Indonesia strong and continue to grow. Moreover, Indonesia is still facing the Covid-19 pandemic with a new variant, Omicron. The solidarity based on the discipline of implementing strict health protocols is expected to make Indonesia stronger in facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Solidarity and mutual cooperation will also make Indonesia jointly able to cope with the consequences of natural disasters. Because Indonesia may still experience various disasters. As stated by Professor of the earthquake research at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Danny Hilman Natawidjaja in an online discussion, Monday (27/12), as a country on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia will always face the risk of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruption. Solidarity and mutual cooperation must be carried out by all Indonesian people for disaster mitigation, starting from prevention efforts to preparation so that not many become victims of disasters.

The Indonesian people must also raise their optimism to contribute to the country and the world. In 2022, there is high trust that will be carried out by Indonesia. One of them is the G20 presidency and at the same time, Indonesia is to host the event with the theme 'Recover Together, Recover Stronger'. The theme that reflects Indonesia's solidarity with the world’s economic recovery due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic can be carried out together and will make it stronger. In carrying out their duties and responsibilities, every individual in Indonesia must be based on the spirit of solidarity and mutual cooperation. Hence, the hope of achieving the desired 'Indonesia Forward' can be pursued soonest.