BIOTROP’s Covid-19 Task Force invited Bogor City’s Covid-19 Task Force on 24 June 2020 to have a more intensive discussion and obtain clear directions in handling Covid-19 virus pandemic.

In his opening remarks, Drs Dedie A. Rachim, MA, the Vice Mayor of Bogor City, said that there are three aspects that must be considered in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, namely health, social impact and economic recovery. In Bogor City, around 159 thousand families are registered to receive aids due to loss of livelihoods. This economical aspect is very challenging because the economy has been greatly diminishing during the pandemic, both in the community and government levels. For this reason, he suggested that BIOTROP should provide knowledge on urban farming in supporting food security to the surrounding communities.   During the visit, the Head of Bogor City’s Health Office, dr Sri Nowo Retno, MARS, said that the Covid-19 virus attacks the respiratory tract and spreads through droplets that enter the mouth, nose and eyes. Because there is no vaccine yet, each individual must cover these three facial areas with a mask, refrain ourselves from touching these three facial areas, wash hands and apply hand sanitiser containing at least 75% alcohol, and keep a personal distance at least 2 meters. She also mentioned that human beings with comorbid diseases such as diabetes and heart disease as well as the elderly have a higher risk if being exposed to this virus.

dr Retno further explained that Bogor City is currently still included in the yellow zone. The number of Covid-19 positive patients in Bogor reached its peak in the 4th week of March and the 1st and 2nd week of April, and after that it declined, but then rose again after Eid al-Fitr. At the beginning of the pandemic, symptoms that appear are fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and lethargy like other symptoms of viral infection. But now, about 80% of sufferers only experience mild symptoms; hence, many people do not realise that they have been infected.

To deal with this pandemic, cooperation and commitment from all parties are needed. Every individual is required to be discipline and honest. Socialisation and education to the public regarding efforts to prevent Covid-19 virus, especially in terms of cleanliness and the use of masks, are also needed so that communities will not be afraid and patients do not feel ostracised.