We will evaluate the implementation of the activity, yet the regulation is clear that school capacity will be restricted by half only if the region's PPKM status is at level 3Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Governor of Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria urged schools conducting offline activities in the city to optimise the COVID-19 task force set up by school administrators to thwart COVID-19 infections in schools.
"We urge schools to optimise and enhance the performance of their COVID-19 task force," Patria stated at the Jakarta City Hall on Wednesday.
The Jakarta authority continues to abide by the joint decree of four ministers on the implementation of offline school activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the deputy governor remarked.
The decree stipulates regions with enforcement of community activities restriction (PPKM) level 1 or 2 were allowed to reopen schools with full capacity, he noted.
Jakarta, which is currently under level 2 PPKM, will observe the developments in conditions before deciding on restrictions in school activities amid a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the region, he stated.
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"We will evaluate the implementation of the activity, yet the regulation is clear that school capacity will be restricted by half only if the region's PPKM status is at level 3," Patria remarked.
The deputy governor confirmed that Jakarta will not suspend the reopening of schools despite neighbouring cities of Tangerang, Depok, and Bekasi, with PPKM status being on the same tier as Jakarta, having suspended offline activities at school.
He justified the position by affirming that clauses on the joint ministerial decree on school reopening still allows Jakarta, which had surpassed the 80-percent vaccination coverage criteria set by the decree, to conduct offline school activities.
"We still permit to conduct offline school activities since according to the joint decree of four ministers, Jakarta still qualifies for the school reopening criteria," Patria explained.
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The Jakarta provincial authority noted on Saturday, Jan 22, 2022, that some 90 schools in Jakarta had suspended offline school activities, and 135 COVID-19 positive cases had been reported in schools.
Of the 135 COVID-19 positive cases, most were recorded among pupils, reaching 120 cases, followed by nine cases involving teachers and six cases of school administrators.
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Translator: Dewa Ketut SW, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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