TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - North Jakarta administration has raided a total of 167 homeless people or those with social welfare problems (PMKS) from April 27 until May 11 and conducted the coronavirus disease or Covid-19 rapid tests.

The head of the North Jakarta Social Agency, Ajo Antoko, reported that six of them were referred to the hospital after the test.

“135 of them are sent home to their families after their tests come back negative, while six others are treated in the social shelter and sent to hospitals,” said Aji in a written statement on Monday evening, May 11.

Aji stopped short of detailing the condition of the six homeless people. He underlined that the rapid test is such an obligation in an effort to detect the spread of the coronavirus among Jakartans who often roam outside their homes.

Meanwhile, the remaining 26 people were still practicing independent isolation at Tanjung Priok Sports Hall (GOR). Those homeless people who have families and are declared healthy are permitted to return homes.

“Otherwise, they must carry out self-isolation here (at Sports Hall) and will later be treated in social shelters of Jakarta administration,” Aji added.

The Jakarta provincial administration started to net homeless people after rampant issues about employees who were laid off due to the Covid-19 pandemic and living as homeless. Governor Anies Baswedan then instructed city-owned sports halls to be repurposed into temporary shelters to accommodate them.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA