A number of COVID-19 clusters have emerged at pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Central Java.

As many as 200 students of the Quranic Studies Institute (PTIQ) in Cilandak, South Jakarta, have tested positive for COVID-19.

The students were transported by bus to isolation facilities at the Kemayoran athletes village and Pademangan Tower in Central Jakarta, without notifying their parents, wartakota.tribunnews.com reported on Monday.

“The institute has yet to inform me of anything. I don’t even know in which tower my child is staying,” said one of the parents who was not identified.

It was previously reported that a student staying in the school’s dormitory had contracted COVID-19. The school has continued to hold in-person classes, despite the reimposition of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Jakarta since Sept. 14.

Number of COVID-19 clusters at Islamic boarding schools. (JP/Swi)

Meanwhile, in Yogyakarta, more than 100 students from two pesantren in Ngaglik and Prambanan have also contracted COVID-19. 

“There are an additional 38 students [from Ngaglik],” said Sleman Health Agency Head Joko Hastaryo over the weekend. 

Initially, 41 COVID-19 cases were reported at a pesantren in Ngaglik. After the students’ contacts were traced, an additional 14 students were added to the figure, prior to the announcement of another 38 new cases. In total, the Ngaglik pesantren has recorded 93 COVID-19 cases, kompas.com reported.

Meanwhile, another pesantren in Prambanan reported one confirmed COVID-19 case and after tracing, an additional 10 were added to the list. In total, 104 COVID-19 cases have been recorded from the two pesantren.

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A large number of COVID-19 cases were also detected at a pesantren in Banyumas, Central Java.

“We have gathered and tested 631 samples, 328 of which come out positive,” Banyumas administration secretary Wahyu Budi Saptono said as reported by Antara newswire.

The COVID-19 patients who showed symptoms were treated at Prof. DR, Margono Soekarjo Purwanegara Regional Hospital, while asymptomatic patients were transported to a quarantine facility in Baturaden.

Aside from the boarding school in Purwanegara, another pesantren in Karanggintung village in Sumbang district of Banyumas reported that 11 of its students had also contracted COVID-19.

Separately, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said that collaboration between the government, clerics and school managements was necessary to contain COVID-19 infection clusters at pesantren.

“All stakeholders from clerics to school management and the government must work together to set health protocols at boarding schools,” he said as quoted by tempo.co. 

Ganjar said virus mitigation measures must be implemented at boarding schools immediately, given the high risk of infection.

Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen also promoted Gerakan Jogo Santri, a movement to protect Islamic school students.

Taj Yasin, also known as Gus Yasin, asked school managements not to send students back home.

Read also: Schools could become new clusters of COVID-19 transmission: Indonesian Red Cross

“It is feared they may spread the virus in their neighborhoods,” he said.

Central Java has recorded COVID-19 infection clusters at several pesantren, including in Batang, Kendal, Kebumen and Banyumas.

On Tuesday, Central Java recorded additional 721 confirmed COVID-19 cases, adding to the total tally of 24,165, with an additional 11 fatalities taking the death toll to 2,046.

The Health Ministry announced 4,056 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 311,176. 

According to data released by the ministry on Tuesday, 121 more people have died of the disease, bringing the death toll to 11,374. (iwa)

Editor’s note: This article is part of a public campaign by the COVID-19 task force (Satgas COVID-19) to raise awareness about the pandemic.