Head of the Bandung COVID-19 Task Force Asep Gufron said that the appeal has been made to avoid the risk of students lingering around after school ends. If students gather or play after school, it could increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission, he explained.
"So, I urge parents of elementary and junior high schools: Don't give them pocket money," Gufron said at Bandung City Hall, West Java, on Wednesday.
Parents' role is important for preventing COVID-19 in educational institutions or in the family environment, he stressed.
He advised parents to prepare lunchboxes in lieu of pocket money. Aside from being budget-friendly, it would also guarantee hygiene, he remarked.
"So it's better to just (give them homemade meals) to be eaten later. It's hygienic, too," he said.
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Students who do not immediately return home after face-to-face schooling hinder efforts to keep COVID-19 spread under control, particularly in educational institutions, he added.
This is because schools can only impose and monitor health protocols within their premises, he said.
"So schools must have a Task Force. They must educate, evaluate, and dismiss students (once school hours are over)," he said.
So far, 14 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in educational institutions, based on random tests in a number of schools, he noted. Of the 14 patients, 13 are students and one is a teacher, he added.
"We are continuing to track (infections) not only in the school environment. We are continuously trying to conduct testing and tracing. That is (for certain)," he added.
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Translator: Bagus A R, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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