Those who were positive were provided health treatment and quarantine facilities under the supervision of doctors.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The headquarters of the Social Affairs Ministry in Jakarta have been closed as 60 employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19, Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini has informed.

"All employees in the ministry's headquarter had undergone the PCR swab tests. Those who were positive were provided health treatment and quarantine facilities under the supervision of doctors," she informed in a written statement here on Thursday.

The positive workers have been provided packages containing medicines and vitamins from the ministry’s polyclinic, she said.

They have been placed under isolation at the ministry’s Mulya Jaya Social Rehabilitation Center, Jakarta and Budi Dharma Elderly Nursing Home, Bekasi city, West Java province, she added.


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The attempt is aimed at curbing the transmission of the virus as well as protecting employees’ health and safety, the minister said.

Further, all the rooms and equipment, including door handles, tables, chairs, and ladder ramps, in the ministry building are being sanitized and disinfected, she added.

In addition, the ministry is strengthening the implementation of the health protocols, as well as tracking and tracing all close contacts of the employees exposed to COVID-19, Rismaharini said.

Furthermore, employees have been asked to work from home from January 26–January 31, 2022, she added.


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However, for urgent tasks, a limited number of employees — who have tested negative in PCR tests — have been allowed to work from the office on assignments given by their unit heads, the minister said.

The Social Affairs Ministry is also coordinating with the Health Ministry to expedite the implementation of booster vaccinations for the ministry’s workers, she said.

Despite the restrictions, public services, such as the distribution of social assistance, will continue to be carried out by implementing strict health protocols, Rismaharini assured.

According to the COVID-19 dashboard of the Jakarta provincial government, 3,509 additional cases were confirmed in the province on Thursday.


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Translator: Devi Ramadhan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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