Indonesia confirmed two imported cases of COVID-19 in Jakarta on March 2, 2020. This was announced by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. The spread of COVID-19 is very fast and the mobility of Indonesian people is very high. On March 13, .2020, the data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia showed that there were 69 citizens with COVID-19, 5 recovery, and 4 death for all regions of the Republic of Indonesia. On March 15, 2020, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jokowi at Bogor Palace officially appealed to the public to increase their awareness so that the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) can be suppressed in Indonesia.

Jokowi urged that “It’s time for us to work from home, learn from home, worship at home,” According to Jokowi, this step needs to be done so that the prevention of COVID-19 can be more effective.

Work from Home (WfH) is a concept where employees can do their job from home. Working from home provides flexible working hours for employees and their work can be done easily. WfH helps the government to break the COVID-19 spread chain by limiting the gathering and interaction of citizens in open spaces. Based on the direction of the President of the Republic Indonesia, the National Library of Republic Indonesia through circular letter number 2731/2/KPG.10.00/III.2020, implemented the WfH initiative from 17-31 March 2020, and this will be reviewed further according to the needs and developments. Librarians in National Library of Republic Indonesia are required to describe the library materials by including a cataloguing descriptive, the subject, and the data input of bibliographic materials using INLIS application that can be accessed from home., Whatever that can be done in the office can still run well without having to be present at work. The attendance of the employees of the National Library of Republic Indonesia and reports from WfH are reported daily through the Google forms application.

Pic-1

Picture. 1.

Work from Home (WfH) Librarian In Bidang Pengolahan The National Library Of Indonesia (Photo

Courtesy of: Bidang Pengolahan The National Library Of Indonesia

Pic-2

Picture. 2

Attendance List And Work from Home (WfH) Activity Report For Librarian In Bidang Pengolahan The

National Library Republic of Indonesia (Photo Courtesy of: Bidang Pengolahan The National Library

Of Indonesia)

Study from Home (SfH)

President Joko Widodo has appealed to conduct activities at home, including studying. The regional government responded to President’s appeal by taking two weeks off from Saturday (March 14, 2020) to Sunday (March 29, 2020) and a review was conducted to see its progress. All non-formal schools / educational institutions, from PAUD / TK to SMA and Universities, apply distance-learning methods to limit direct contact following the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia.

The Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud), Nadiem Anwar Makarim said he supported the policy of the regional government that closed schools for fear of spreading the coronavirus or COVID-19. The impact of the spread of COVID-19 will differ from one region to another. The safety of students and teachers and education personnel is the main concern. The Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) was ready with all the scenarios, including online learning (in networks) / Study from Home (SfH) for students.

SfH is a learning activity done by remote method through the online system, which replaces the face-to-face teaching. SfH was conducted in order to prevent and break the chain of virus COVID-19 spread, where children have the potential to carry/transmit the COVID-19 from one adult to another.

Pic-3

Pictures. 3.

SfH Uses Portal And Android-Based Remote Learning Apps (Photo Courtesy of: Tribun-Medan.com/ Dedy Kurniawan)

Physical Distancing

Work from Home (WfH) and Study from Home (SfH) are part of the social distancing movement, social distancing in the Indonesian language interpreted as social restriction. Initially, this phrase was interpreted as an effort to keep the distance from stopping or dampening the spread of infectious diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) latest statement now urges people to use the phrase ‘physical distancing’ rather than ‘social distancing’. Physical distancing here is interpreted as ‘maintaining physical distance’. World Health Organization (WHO) changed phrases aiming to recommend physical distance from on a social distance by encouraging communities to stay connected through social media. The Indonesian Government, dated March 23, 2020 through Menkopolhukam Mahfud MD., the proposed mention of social distancing was considered not in accordance with the Indonesian culture that is famous for inter-individual hospitality, social distancing as if alienating community harmony.

The mention of physical distancing is more fitting for the context of maintaining a physical distance related to the coronavirus prevention (COVID-19). The Indonesian Government explained that the steps of maintaining physical distance and quarantining themselves when infected with COVID-19 are useful in preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, that does not mean making people socially isolated. People still need to do social interactions, especially by utilizing information technology and using social media. The Government’s appeal of physical distancing has to be a distance guarded in interacting with others. In fact, it is advisable to keep a distance of about 1 metre, use a mask, then wash the area of the face, hands, and clothes used after meeting with others.

Pic-4

Pictures. 4.

A Visitor Queue In One of The Hospitals In Padang Implements Physical Distancing

(Photo Courtesy of: Reuters)

Pic-5

Pictures. 5.

Purchase Queue Meal At One of The Mall In Surabaya

(Photo Courtesy of: twitter.com/N111ken)

Pic-6

Pictures. 6.

An Office Cafeteria Marked With Special Marks On The Seat  (Photo Courtesy of: Instagram/@makassar_iinfo)

Pic-7

Pictures. 7.

Passengers At Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport Sit On The Airport Bench While Keeping A Distance of 1

Metre. (Photo Courtesy of: iNews.id/Aris Wiyanto)

Pic-8

Pictures. 8.

Physical Distancing In The Elevator (Photo Courtesy of: Kompas.com/A.Faisol)

President Joko Widodo broadcast via YouTube the Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday (March 24, 2020) confirmed that the Government has not yet considered the lockdown option to prevent COVID-19. Keeping the physical distance between citizens is the most effective in preventing the coronavirus (COVID-19) chain of the spread. The president added, the physical distancing habit also requires a strong discipline, to a strong firmness. Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as well as the Head of Corona Handling Task Force, Doni Monardo, delivered all the regional heads in Indonesia agreed with the direction of President of the physical distancing, but it doesn mean disconnecting with family and friends socially. Hopefully, the policy steps of the Indonesian Government can immediately terminate the problem and break the chain of the spread of COVID-19 in the country known for the friendliness of its population.