Govt Asked to Review Plan to Turn Schools into COVID-19 Isolation
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23 April 2020 19:17 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) speaker Prasetio Edi Marsudi suggested the government review its plan to turn schools into isolation venues for patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease or COVID-19. He said the schools are located in the middle of public residences.
“Do not let the blue zone become a red one because of the policy,” said Prasetio to Tempo on Thursday, April 23.
According to him, several school buildings in West Jakarta are close to residential areas. However, he stopped short of mentioning the name.
Based on Tempo’s observation through Google Maps, the proposed schools in West Jakarta are indeed situated near public housing. They are Junior High School (SMP) 176, Mangga Besar Elementary School (SD) 11, Tanah Sereal SD 01, Keagungan SD 01, Maphar SMP 01, Semanan SD 03, Jelambar Baru SD 03/05, State Learning and Teaching Center (PKBM) 30, Tomang SD 11, and Jelambar Baru SD 07/09.
Prasetio thus demanded the Jakarta provincial administration to reconsider the plan and underlined that the government’s regulation must not expand the areas of the coronavirus spread.
“If the reason is the limited venues for the coordination with the central government, I believe there is a solution, a way out, without turning schools into isolation sites for COVID-19 patients. This will be sorry for the children later,” said the PDIP politician.
Previously, the Jakarta Education Agency prepared a total of 136 schools to be designated as places for patients infected with the new coronavirus as stipulated in the official letter of the agency’s head Nahdiana No. 4443/-1.772.1.
LANI DIANA WIJAYA