VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said the Indonesian government and citizens will face tougher challenges in the new normal era compared to the period when large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) were enforced to curb coronavirus infections.

"We have entered a transition period as we usher in the new normal. This situation (transition to the new normal) would be more difficult for the community compared to the PSBB period," the Vice President said in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Amin further said that the rules enforced during the PSBB period led to the majority of people halting activities to break the chain of COVID-19 spread. However, during the transition from PSBB to the new normal, some people would have to resume going to work again.

"It was relatively easier to maintain social distancing (during the PSBB period), as learning, worship, and working activities were conducted from home," he explained.

Now, there are a number of activities that can be carried out — albeit with some limitations — as restrictions are being relaxed, but there is still potential for COVID-19 transmission, he cautioned, urging citizens to follow health protocols more strictly in the transition period and in the new normal era.

"Otherwise, this could lead to an increase in COVID-19 transmission. As of now, it is relatively under control, so we can enter the new normal; but, the key is public compliance with health protocols," he stressed.

In addition, the economy is also facing challenges that must be worked on together as productivity stopped during the PSBB period, he noted. He said he believed the problem must be addressed early to prevent an economic crisis.

"If we let the economic downturn continue, we will not (be able to) overcome it; it could be very dangerous. It could become a crisis and it would be too difficult, too heavy to recover from that later on," he remarked.

Therefore, both the community and the government need to pay attention to the two issues of public compliance with health protocols and economic decline in order to rise and become productive in the new normal era, he said. (ANTARA)