President Jokowi Asks Face-to-Face School Activities To Be Strictly Supervised

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo asked for strict supervision of face-to-face school activities to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

This was conveyed by the President in a limited meeting with a number of ministers in Jakarta, Monday, November 15.

"The president has directed that face-to-face schools carry out strict surveillance so that when there are indications we can take action to prevent it from spreading," said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin after attending a limited meeting, quoted by Antara.

Budi said that his party had indeed identified from week to week if there was an increase in the number of cases in a number of regencies and cities.

The Minister of Health said that last week, based on observations from the Ministry of Health, there were 126 districts/cities that experienced an increase in cases, of which some have experienced an increase in cases for three weeks in a row.

"So we do an in-depth investigation. And most of the increase is due to an increase in positive cases in schools. Therefore, Pak Nadiem and I (Mendikbud, Research and Technology, ed) will consolidate, hopefully we can complete the face-to-face school program but with active surveillance and more proactive," he said.

In the limited meeting, Budi said that the President was grateful that the active cases of COVID-19 had decreased. However, the President asked all parties to remain vigilant, especially in the face of Christmas and New Year, so that the next spike in cases does not occur.