Jakarta (ANTARA) - A number of private as well as government-owned offices in the Indonesian capital have reported COVID-19 cases on their premises, said head of DKI Jakarta Health Office, Widyastuti, in Jakarta on Friday.

She, however, did not specify the names of offices that have reported positive COVID-19 cases, or whether they can potentially emerge as new clusters of coronavirus spread.

"I do not have the data on hand, but there have been reports (of COVID-19 cases) from the levels of central government offices, provincial government, state-owned enterprises, ministries, institutions, private offices, and provincial apparatus organizations in DKI Jakarta," she informed.

Several measures need to be taken in offices where positive case clusters have been identified, including closure and disinfection of office premises, she said.

"What certainly needs to be done is disinfection; it should be a routine activity. Areas that are often touched by people, such as toilets, need to be disinfected," she stressed.

The DKI Health Office has requested offices to implement clean and healthy lifestyle guidelines (PHBS) and health protocols, in accordance with the Governor’s Decree Number 51 of 2020, and coordinate with it should a case emerge to allow immediate investigation.

"From various offices that we have checked in the field, they have carried out health protocols well," Widyastuti said.

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However, coronavirus transmission could still continue as people can get infected not only inside office buildings, but also their settlements, or during the trip to and from home, she added.

“So, the protocol attached to an individual and when they behave socially outside the office is also included (in precautionary measures). Examples of activities outside of the offices are lunch breaks, and when they (office goers) eat, they can forget these protocols as they open their masks and sit face to face. It's risky," she said.

She further said that office clusters can have various transmission sources, which can be internal (within the building), or they can be attributed to social activities during breaks, or the commute for work.

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Translator: Ricky Prayoga/Aria Cindyara
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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