8 Teachers And Students Exposed To COVID-19, SMPN 8 Makassar Stops PTM

MAKASSAR - SMP Negeri 8 Makassar, South Sulawesi, has suspended face-to-face learning (PTM) after eight teachers and students were exposed to COVID-19.

"SMPN 8 did not have a PTM before, because one of the teachers received confirmation from the hospital if he was exposed to COVID-19," said Head of Makassar City Education Office, Muhyiddin, quoted by Antara, Thursday, February 10.

He said that the spread of the corona virus in the school started when a teacher was exposed to COVID-19 but continued to teach at the school.

At that time, the teacher went to school carrying out an assignment to teach in two classes. Not long ago he got a call from the hospital that his surgery was postponed, because he was confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Following up on this, the school immediately started tracing. The results found that each of four teachers and students were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

"We don't want to take risks, so we immediately stop the PTM process at SMP Negeri 8 Makassar," he said.

He said the closure of PTMs in schools was carried out for a week while conducting a swab test of personnel at schools suspected of having direct contact with teachers or students who were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Even though he stopped the face-to-face learning process for a week, Muhyiddin ensured that the students' teaching and learning process would continue.

"So for the time being, the re-learning process is carried out online for students, while teachers continue to attend school and teach online," he explained.