COVID-19 Cluster At SMPN 4 Purbalingga, Kemendikbudristek: PTM Stopped To Replace With PJJ

ILLUSTRATION/Disdik DKI

JAKARTA - Acting Head of the Bureau of Cooperation and Public Relations of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Anang Ristanto, said educational units that opened face-to-face learning (PTM) and resulted in COVID-19 clusters, would immediately be suspended and resume distance learning (PJJ)

"However, other schools that are not affected can open PTM according to the PPKM Level as regulated in the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding PPKM which is always updated once a week," Anang told VOI, Thursday, September 23.

Anang revealed that the Purbalingga Regency Government, Central Java, had taken steps, after 90 students of SMPN 4 Mrebet were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

"On Saturday, September 11, 2021, SMP Negeri 4 Mrebet received a letter from the UPTD of the Mrebet Health Center, the date of the letter was September 10, 2021 number: 443.5.1/300 regarding the implementation of vaccinations," he explained.

Following up on the letter from the Puskesmas, explained Anang, SMPN 4 Mrebet made a notification letter to the student's guardian through letter number: 421/181/2021, 17 September 2021 regarding notification.

"And SMP Negeri 4 Mrebet has carried out the vaccine on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, as many as 109 students and the next vaccine is planned to be carried out on Wednesday, September 22, 2021," he explained.

Then, continued Anang, the principal received an announcement in the form of whatsapp in the MKKS group from the junior high school curriculum officer regarding PTM requirements and the 10,000 free antigen program from the Health Service for teachers and students on Monday, September 13, 2021.

"The principal followed up on the announcement by making an application for an antigen test to the Mrebet Health Center on Thursday, September 16, 2021 through letter number: 421/183/2021 dated September 15, 2021 regarding the request for an antigen test. September 20, 2021," he said.

The antigen swab, added Anang, was carried out on Monday, September 20.

"And the results of the recap from teachers and vocational students who helped carry out the swab from all teachers and employees of SMP Negeri 4 Mrebet, a total of 27 people, all came back negative. Of the 337 students of SMP Negeri 4 Mrebet, there were 90 students whose results were positive for COVID-19 (a positive list of students is attached), the finished recapitulation results were then retyped by the school to be classified based on where they lived at the request of the Head of the Mrebet Health Center," said Anang.

The Purbalingga Regency Government, Central Java temporarily suspended limited face-to-face learning activities (PTM). The district government evaluates the readiness of health protocols, following 90 positive COVID-19 students.

"For the time being, all limited PTM implementations will be suspended until further evaluation is carried out," said Purbalingga Regent Dyah Hayuning Pratiwi, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, September 21.

The regent said the decision was taken following 90 students of SMPN 4 Mrebet, Purbalingga Regency who are currently undergoing centralized isolation in the school building because their rapid antigen test results showed positive for COVID-19.

This condition was discovered after a mass antigen test activity was held by the local puskesmas team to support face-to-face learning.

"Based on the information we received, from about 300 students, it turned out that 90 of them had a positive antigen test result," he said.