Yes, we are talking about the COVID-19 crisis, which has affected nations indiscriminately. The paralysis may prolong for another year — or more until the ongoing mass vaccination program manages to reach herd immunity.

Nearly 11 months into the pandemic, Indonesia’s COVID-19 transmission curve has continued to climb and we will soon join the club of countries that have registered 1 million cases. There are already 18 countries on the list, with the United States taking a commanding lead with 25.7 million — or more than one-fourth of total infections.

In fact, developed countries like the US, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany are in the top 10, but that’s due to their testing and tracing capacity, which other countries cannot match. The US and the UK, for example, have a testing capacity of more than 900,000 per 1 million population.

Indonesia is entering the 1 million mark with just over 31,000 tests per 1 million population, which means the current data may not reflect the country’s real condition. As of Monday, the novel coronavirus has killed more than 28,100 people, while nearly 809,500 patients have recovered across the country.

Doni Monardo, the chief of the national COVID-19 task force and National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), is among the latest officials to contract the virus. Doni tested positive on Saturday after a series of work visits in earthquake-affected areas in West Sulawesi and flood-hit South Kalimantan.

As a person in charge of the COVID-19 response and who undoubtedly has tried his best to practice what he preaches about the need to wear masks, wash one’s hands with soap and maintain a distance, Doni’s contracting the virus is yet another reminder against complacency. Doni said he might have gotten infected when he took off his mask to eat. 

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