The Impact of the COVID-19 Self-Isolation Policy on the Occupations of Vulnerable Groups

Abstract

Today, the spread of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact on world public health and bring about considerable human suffering partly due to government policies on reducing the spread. COVID-19 has significantly affected human health and it has impacted on the occupation of vulnerable groups such as tour guides, drivers and shop assistants. Of these, the present study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 self-isolation policy on the occupation of vulnerable groups in Semarang City, Indonesia. To achieve this objective, this study uses a qualitative method with an ethnography approach considering a rational or non-rational thinking model. The binary opposition thinking pattern pioneered by Lévi-Strauss was used in the interview process with 25 informants in Semarang City, Indonesia. The data analyzed the response pattern of informants through the taxonomy analysis. Three levels of vulnerability among groups relating to occupation were identified; jobs lost, income decreased, and delayed salary. The result of the analysis found that the group who obeyed self-isolation was categorized as a rational thinking; these groups stay at home, do not go to work, and have no income. Besides that, the group who ignored self-isolation is categorized as non-rational thinking; they work, as usual, get their salary, and believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is a disaster and they pray for their safety to God. In conclusion, COVID-19 brings a significant impact on occupation in the forms of postponing, declining, and missing income besides the health effects among vulnerable groups in Semarang city, Indonesia. In avoiding COVID-19 infection, the circumstances of vulnerable groups are worse when self-isolation is required. Thus, this study suggests that the government needs to assist vulnerable groups by focusing on strategic policies, such as strategies for survival, providing access to basic needs, including health, and offering livelihood plans by providing access to medical services and other source of income.

Culture versus Technology: Bridging the Gap to Improve COVID-19 Prevention and Care based on the COVID-19 Task Force Perspectives

“…It is an obstacle for health workers in the COVID-19 task force in enhancing the handling of COVID-19 in the Sumedang area. Therefore, the recommendation to stay at home, implement social restrictions, place restrictions on community activities, and isolate is one solution to prevent community mobilization [26], [27].…”

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“…Based on these findings, if the policy to localize the SDGs is positioned as an agent of discourse exchange (Shore and Wright, 1993), it is clear how the policy formulation illustrates the dynamics of the production and reproduction process of policies that occur [18,19,20]. A kind of market metaphor takes place in the policy-making process, where it can be seen from the process of exchanging discourses between state and non-state actors in determining what is urgent and not urgent in terms of the context and conditions of real problems faced in the region].…”

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition, Health and Environment in Indonesia: A Qualitative Investigation of Perspectives from Multi-Disciplinary Experts

“…The first wave was between March to September 2020, the second wave was between June to September 2021 and the most current from January to March 2022 [ 7 ]. Following the recommendations from the WHO, to curb the spread of the virus and flatten the curve, the Indonesian government implemented Large-Scale Social Restrictions (LSSR) policies, which included closing workplaces, schools, public transportation, and socio-cultural activities in public places from March ending 2020 to September 2020 [ 7 , 8 ]. However, similar to other countries, social restrictions had adverse socio-economic impacts including reduced work force, job losses, mental health impacts, and sedentary behaviors [ 6 , 8 ].…”

“…Following the recommendations from the WHO, to curb the spread of the virus and flatten the curve, the Indonesian government implemented Large-Scale Social Restrictions (LSSR) policies, which included closing workplaces, schools, public transportation, and socio-cultural activities in public places from March ending 2020 to September 2020 [ 7 , 8 ]. However, similar to other countries, social restrictions had adverse socio-economic impacts including reduced work force, job losses, mental health impacts, and sedentary behaviors [ 6 , 8 ]. Further, Indonesia reported the highest mortality figures from the COVID-19 among countries in the South East Asia region [ 5 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…However, similar to other countries, social restrictions had adverse socio-economic impacts including reduced work force, job losses, mental health impacts, and sedentary behaviors [ 6 , 8 ]. Further, Indonesia reported the highest mortality figures from the COVID-19 among countries in the South East Asia region [ 5 , 8 , 9 ]. Table 1 shows the cumulative number of confirmed cases and deaths due to the COVID-19 as of June 2022.…”