Adjusting to the New Normal − Rakyat Biologi

The effects of the COVID-19 panic have caused great changes in people's daily lives. Changes that often occur quickly and suddenly. Life adjustments often come with a variety of experiences and emotions. Sometimes the transition can feel smooth and sometimes the journey to a new normal life can be devastating.

There are three ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. One involves restrictions on movement in the social and economic sectors. Second, an efficient vaccine is developed, which may take at least 12-18 months for clinical trials and mass production. The third way is to stop the COVID-19 outbreak naturally with herd immunity.

Rapid diagnosis, drugs and vaccines are not the only strategies to find a way out of COVID-19. Self-regulation and self-discipline are equally important to prevent the virus from reappearing in the future. People have to regulate themselves by following the health protocols and policies given by the government. In addition, people must discipline themselves to avoid violating health protocols. Temperature checks will become a new normal or routine as an initial step in detecting COVID-19. Persons with a temperature of 37.5°C or above will be refused entry, and should seek medical attention immediately.

Another normal life is that organizers, workers, visitors and attendees at meetings, events and gatherings have to provide their contact details such as name, phone number, email and home address. This information will be shared with the ministry of health if COVID-19 infection occurs in their respective places. As currently being implemented by the Government of Indonesia, the step in question is the use of the Protect Peduli application. The application indirectly records anyone who visits a certain place.

If a COVID-19 infection occurs, the respective workplaces, premises and buildings must be closed immediately and all operations stopped. The Ministry of Health should be notified and contact details will be shared for contact tracing. Then, the diagnostic test is applied to all workers and visitors. A person must self-isolate, because he is infected, and is not allowed to enter work after being infected. Infected people can come to work after at least 11 days of self-isolation. This is because infected people are no longer contagious after 11 days of illness. Workplaces can be opened after disinfection.

The fight against COVID-19 is far from over. Therefore, it is important for us to be prepared for the next wave of COVID-19 infections. Motion restrictions are an attempt to flatten the infection curve, but not to stop the virus completely. The social and economic sectors must be opened gradually to reduce the impact of the economic recession. The community must adapt and welcome the new normal, self-regulation and self-discipline to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, social distancing and personal hygiene measures will remain in place until an effective vaccine is found.

Maybe the beginning of 2022 really starts as a new normal transition. COVID-19 restrictions have eased even though Covid-19 persists. It's time to accept that the new normal will be around for some time or forever and find ways to deal with it. Vaccination, avoiding crowds without masks in unventilated spaces; Meanwhile, learning to be wise about one's health according to one's age, task and circumstances, should become the new and permanent norm.

It's time to be people who relate directly to each other. Isolation and lockdown must end. Face-to-face classes have to start, sports and vacations are revived in our daily lives. It's time to get back to the art of casual and meaningful conversation on topics other than COVID-19 and its restrictions. It's time to return to being social humans who relate to each other appropriately and personally to satisfaction.

Mental health has been compromised by isolation and loneliness for everyone and that includes children and the elderly. There is a better way to deal with a pandemic than a massive lockdown. Don't put off living any longer to stay in touch with yourself and your deepest thoughts, dreams, ambitions, desired lifestyle. It's time to transition to the new normal.