Sharply Rising, COVID-19 Cases In SMP 5 Ngawi Cluster Becomes 32 People

An officer from the Ngawi Health Office conducted a PCR swab test on SMP Negeri 5 students, Thursday (27/1/2022) after the findings of two positive COVID-19 students. (ANTARA/Louis Rika)

NGAWI - Cases of transmission of COVID-19 from the SMP Negeri 5 cluster in Ngawi Regency, East Java, were reported to have increased from the previous two students, currently recorded to be 32 people.

The head of the Ngawi Health Service (Dinkes) dr Yudono said the addition of 30 people was based on the results of tracking from dozens of close contacts who were tested by PCR swabs by local Health Office officers.

"The results of the PCR search show that an additional 30 people have tested positive. So from the SMP 5 Ngawi cluster so far, there have been 32 people who have been confirmed positive for COVID-19," said Dr Yudono in Ngawi, quoted by Antara, Friday, January 28.

His party detailed that of the additional 30 positive people, as many as 22 were students, four teachers, and four others were families of the two students who were initially confirmed.

Regarding the type of variant, it is still waiting for the results of laboratory tests in Surabaya. The Ngawi Health Office has sent all samples for further investigation.

Yudono explained that the condition of the 30 patients from the search was in stable condition. They are self-isolating in their respective homes with the close supervision of the nearest puskesmas officers.

Meanwhile, the two students who were initially confirmed positive are still undergoing treatment at the Ngawi hospital. One is being treated at the dr Soeroto Ngawi Hospital and the other is being treated at the Attin Husada Hospital Ngawi.

"Patients 30 people are the results of the search, their condition is monitored to be stable and there are no symptoms. The two are still in the hospital," he said.

Regarding the findings of the COVID-19 case from the SMP Negeri 5 cluster, the local Health Office has recommended that limited face-to-face learning (PTM) be temporarily suspended for the next 14 days and replaced online.

In addition, his party will also conduct tracking at SDN 1 Karangasri. This is a follow-up to the findings of the family tracking results which are known to be the sister school of one of the students of SMP Negeri 5 Ngawi who was confirmed positive for COVID-19.

According to data, COVID-19 cases in Ngawi, as of Friday, January 28, had reached 8,267 people. Of that number, 7,384 people have recovered, 19 people are under treatment, and 864 people have died.

Additional cases per Friday, January 28, confirmed 34 new people, 31 people recovered, and zero deaths.