Weak Protocols, Hundreds of Students Test Positive for Covid-19

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Students of different grades wear masks and maintain physical distance as study together in a “pod” on Friday (28/8/2020), using the free wifi facility at the RW 05 community unit hall in West Kuningan, South Jakarta. The subdistrict offices provided free internet access to make it easier for the students to follow the online distance learning (PJJ) education policy during the Covid-19 health crisis.

PADANG, KOMPAS — Hundreds of students in a number of regions have tested positive for Covid-19, possibly due to a lack of discipline in complying with health protocols. Most of the infected students are self-isolating in school dormitories.

At the SMA 1 senior high school in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra, 61 students tested positive for Covid-19. They are self-isolating in the school’s dormitory.

The head of the Padang Panjang Health Office, Nuryanuwar, said that 43 more students had tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday (31/3/2021) in addition to the 18 students recorded on Tuesday, bringing the total number of the students infected by the disease in the city to 61.

Also read: Opening Schools during the Pandemic

"(The students} mostly show no symptoms. They are self-isolating in school dormitories, "said Nuryanuwar. A number of boarding schools have become Covid-19 transmission clusters, possibly due to the visits of the student’s parents or because of the lack of discipline of the local community in complying with health protocols. The first case of Covid-19 in high schools was first detected about two weeks ago.

According to Nuryanuwar, as of Tuesday, more than 300 students had taken a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Students who are not infected are then sent to their respective villages.

The risk of transmission from parent to children is high because their interactions are very close, such as shaking hands and kissing the cheeks.

To prevent a similar incident, Nuryanuwar asked parents to undergo a rapid antigen test before visiting their children in the dormitory. The risk of transmission from parent to children is high because their interactions are very close, such as shaking hands and kissing the cheeks.

In the past week, 56 students and teachers at the SMA Tititan Teras senior high school in Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi, have also tested positive for Covid-19. School activities have been temporarily suspended.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The learning atmosphere of SD Negeri Sempur Kidul students who live in RW 7, Sempur Village, Bogor City, West Java, Monday (21/9/2020).

The spokesman for the Covid-19 taskforce in Jambi, Johansyah, said a test was taken after a student in the grade XI was confirmed positive for Covid-19. Just like in Padang Panjang, the spread of the new coronavirus at the SMA Tititan Teras was relatively fast because students lived together in dormitories.

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The Covid-19 transmission cases were also found in a female-only Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Kauman Village, Pasar Kliwon district, Surakarta, Central Java. Until now, at least 38 female students and teachers at the Islamic boarding school have tested positive for Covid-19.

According to the head of the Pasar Kliwon district, Ari Dwi Daryatmo, the boarding school has been asked to temporarily stop face-to-face learning (PTM) activities to prevent further spread of the disease.

Routine testing

Responding to the reopening of schools in a number of areas, Griffith University epidemiologist Dicky Budiman said regular checks and tracing, in addition to the strict use of health protocols, should be a prerequisite to conduct for face-to-face learning activities. Without routine tests, schools can become clusters of Covid-19 transmission, especially for teachers or parents, because the infection in students is usually asymptomatic.

The SARS-CoV-2 transmission in schools is quite risky if there is no preventive measure and health protocols are not implemented, such as not wearing masks properly and ignoring a social distancing protocols.

This must be anticipated by having routine tests to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

"The risk of transmission due the reopening of schools is quite high, especially if the cases of transmission in the community are still high. This must be anticipated by having routine tests to prevent the further spread of Covid-19, "said Dicky.

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If schools do not conduct routine tests and tracing, there is a risk of widespread transmission in schools, which can also be transmitted to teachers and families. Therefore, if the schools will be reopened, the ability to test and trace must be improved.

Kompas/Priyombodo

With the Covid-19 health protocol, officers serve prospective students who register at SMK Negeri 25, South Jakarta, Wednesday (1/7/2020).

The chairman of the Association of Home Schools and Alternative Education (Asah Pena), Seto Mulyadi, said that his party together with the Education Care Family Movement rejected the joint decree issued by four related ministers on the implementation of face-to-face learning activities. The two organizations appealed to the public to remain patient and refrain from holding face-to-face learning activities.

Also read : Online Learning is Safer for Students and Teachers

"Regarding the resumption of the face-to –face learning activities, we view it as a harsh violation of the child\'s right to life and growth," said Seto Mulyadi. (JOL/NDU/HRS/AIK/EGI/DNE/ITA/MED/DIV)