DKI DPRD Rejects The Plan For The ODP COVID-19 School Building

Illustration of a school building (Photo by Feliphe Schiarolli on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The chairman of DKI Jakarta DPRD, Prasetio Edi Marsudi, rejects the plan of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to prepare hundreds of schools as independent isolation rooms for people under COVID-19 monitoring (ODP). In addition to the risk of transmission, school buildings are not suitable for temporary housing for medical personnel who have worked hard to deal with COVID-19.

Prasetio assessed that using the school building facilities to accommodate ODP patients would be very risky. Moreover, it is likely that these patients will increase their status, so that it has the potential to expand the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

"Many of the proposed schools are in the middle of settlements. Do not let the blue zone become a red zone with the policy issued. This plan must be considered carefully," Prasetio told reporters, Thursday, April 23.

Prasetio understands that the DKI Provincial Government is preparing the school as an isolation room because the building can be used in large numbers if cases related to COVID-19 increase. However, he believes there are other places that can accommodate patients related to COVID-19 and accommodation for medical personnel.

"If the reason is the lack of coordination with the central government, I am sure there is a way out without having to make schools into isolation rooms for corona patients. Pity our children later," he said.

For information, the Secretary of the DKI Jakarta Education Agency, Susi Nurhati, explained that in total, there are 140 schools prepared for independent isolation locations. These school buildings could be used because teaching and learning activities were closed during the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) period.

Schools are prepared starting from elementary schools (SD), junior high schools (SMP), senior high schools (SMA), to vocational high schools (SMK). Meanwhile, the number of temporary residences for medical personnel is 70 rooms.

Susi admitted that her party has just prepared the school and there has been no confirmation on the use of the room from the DKI Health Office. Then, not all schools will immediately be used simultaneously.

"All schools will continue to be verified by the Health Office to ensure that these schools can be used in accordance with existing health protocols," he said.