The South Tangerang administration announced that a new COVID-19 cluster has emerged after a number of staff members and teachers in one school in the city tested positive for the disease.

“It is safe to say that a new cluster in the education sector has emerged, even though the school in question has not reopened,” South Tangerang Deputy Mayor Benyamin Davnie said on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Benyamin said 15 staff members and teachers had tested positive for COVID-19, two of whom had recovered after receiving treatment.

However, Benyamin refused to disclose the exact location of the infected staff and teachers.

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He ensured that no students had contracted the disease since the facility had yet to be reopened for in-class instruction.

“We have to observe [the new cluster] carefully,” he said.

South Tangerang recorded 782 COVID-19 infections as of Sunday, with 45 known cases to have turned fatal. Some 636 patients have recovered from the disease.

Some 101 COVID-19 positive patients are under treatment or in self-isolation, according to official data.

Cipayung subdistrict in Ciputat is the only area without a COVID-19 case in South Tangerang, while Pondok Benda subdistrict in Pamulang has become the area with highest number of COVID-19 cases in the city with 49 positive cases. (dpk)