I laud the local government’s plan (of converting school buildings), but they first need to verify that other prospective locations (for implementing this plan) situated within a reasonable distance from dwelling areas are no longer available
Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - A legislator of Surabaya's Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) Imam Syafi'i praised the Surabaya authority’s proposal to convert school buildings to serve as self-isolation centres for COVID-19-infected Surabaya residents.

"I laud the local government’s plan (of converting school buildings), but they first need to verify that other prospective locations (for implementing this plan) situated within a reasonable distance from dwelling areas are no longer available," Syafi'i, a member of Commission A in charge of law and governance explained here on Friday.

Syafi'i also noted that the current distance learning system being applied for school pupils had rendered school buildings idle, so converting them into isolation centres would not be a difficult task.

"The most important aspect is making assurance that the virus would not spread to populated areas around the school buildings converted into COVID-19 isolation centres," he emphasized.

Syafi'i explained that the COVID-19 infection in Surabaya mostly originated from family clusters, and its transmission had yet to be brought under control. He expressed concern that if the situation were not brought under control, then more deaths would ensue.

"Surabaya’s residents that are self-isolating at homes within densely populated areas are risking transmitting the virus to other residents since the houses are packed there. Oftentimes, the houses’ bedrooms there were not only used for sleeping but also for other activities," Syafi'i pointed out.

School buildings are suitable to be converted into isolation centres since there are already classrooms there that could be easily converted, he stated.

He also reminded the Surabaya authority to ensure the school buildings’ safety and proper disinfection before re-conversion. This step is deemed necessary to prevent virus transmission to the pupils and to maintain the trust of parents in the schools’ safety norms when normal schooling activities commence.

"As experts recommended, disinfection of objects is necessary to ensure that the virus is exterminated," he emphasized.

Earlier, Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi had instructed the authority to take requisite steps to contain COVID-19 transmission and to treat residents infected by the virus. The authority also prepared self-isolation centres by converting school buildings and other places.

Mayor Cahyadi views the decision to utilise school buildings as being appropriate since they already had classrooms and proper toilet facilities.

"Proper ventilation and air conditioning in each room are also available," Cahyadi pointed out.

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Translator: Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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