RRI Surabaya Stops Local Broadcasts Due To Employees Affecting COVID-19

JAKARTA - Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) has stopped local broadcasts on RRI Pro1, Pro2, and Pro4 because their employees have contracted COVID-19. According to the Head of RRI Surabaya Sumarlina, on June 26, there were 54 employees who tested positive for the virus after running a swab test.

He explained that this virus is thought to have originated from the husband and wife of an RRI Surabaya employee who was sick after waiting for his parents who were receiving treatment at the hospital.

"Last June, a couple of civil servants from RRI Surabaya fell ill. It is estimated that they were exposed to COVID in the hospital while waiting for their sick parents," Sumarlina was quoted as saying on the RRI news site, Tuesday, July 14.

Furthermore, the husband and wife of the RRI Surabaya employee underwent isolation at home and waited for the third or final swab result even though the previous test results had been stated negative.

Meanwhile, related to 54 other employees, he said, were currently in good health and tested negative.

"Currently, RRI Surabaya employees have been declared cured because based on the results of the second swab, last June 6, the results were all negative," he said.

However, to reassure the employee's recovery, RRI Surabaya then conducted another swab test or the third time. However, the test results are still unknown.

"The results of the re-swab (54 employees, red) today have not come out. Hopefully all negative," he explained.

Meanwhile, regarding the termination of local broadcasts, Sumarlina said that this has been done since last June 27. He explained that all channels are now integrated with national broadcasts, namely on RRI Pro3.

Previously, the TVRI office also stopped their operations for two weeks after two of its employees died from COVID-19. This closure is carried out for two weeks or 15 days from Monday, July 13th.

The head of East Java TVRI, Akbar Sahidi said, the temporary closure has been carried out since today or Monday, July 13. He said, two employees who were known to be positive for COVID-19, started when several employees complained of being sick and even showed symptoms of contracting the virus.

In fact, an employee who died was initially known to have had dengue fever and was hospitalized. But after being treated, he also experienced shortness of breath.

"The female employee said that she had dengue fever, her platelets dropped. But, how come, she had shortness of breath. On July 9 she entered RSAL, tested positive for COVID-19. Then transferred to RSI Wonokromo," said Akbar.

Then, for another employee, continued Akbar, it was also discovered that he had contracted COVID-19. Even though it was a week ago or on July 6 that he was declared a positive patient but did not report his condition to the company.

This only became known when there was information from the hospital. In fact, both of them and their families already knew but did not report or inform the company.

"When we investigated, it turned out that before he died, the deceased had tested positive for Covid-19. The test results even came out on July 6 yesterday," he concluded.