"As the COVID-19 cases continue declining, we will reopen schools for offline activities. I instruct the head of the municipal Education Office to reopen schools next week," Sugiarto said during a coordination meeting with municipal staff at Heulang Park in Bogor City, West Java, on Tuesday.
The decision was made after the mayor received the COVID-19 situation report from Bogor Health Office Head Sri Nowo Retno, who also attended the meeting.
Retno informed that the COVID-19 infection surge in Bogor has passed its peak, as the current daily infection rate has declined from 1,117 cases in February 2022 to only 90 this month.
Sugiarto instructed schools to reopen with health protocol enforcement as the city's activities restriction enforcement (PPKM) status has reached Level 2.
Meanwhile, Bogor Education Office Head Hanafi said that physical attendance will be restricted to 50 percent of the class capacity.
Related news: Tangerang city to start limited PTM from March 7
The education office head also confirmed that the agency will notify schools in Bogor to set up health protocol facilities, including temperature check equipment, hand washing facilities, and isolation rooms before they reopen.
Hanafi said that schools will be reopened for students of all levels, including primary school levels 1, 2, and 3, which were excluded from the last school reopening.
Despite the Joint Ministerial Letter No. 2 of 2022 permitting the city to implement full offline school reopening, the authorities will remain prudent in reopening schools, he added.
"We need to consider all aspects thoroughly; hence, we will not promptly reopen schools at full capacity," Hanafi said.
Related news: Yogyakarta cuts offline learning capacity at schools to 50%
Translator: Linna Susanti, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
