Indonesia Highlights: In-Class Learning May Resume in July, Jokowi Says | Indonesia's Virtual Police Unit Begins to Warn Social Media Users | Locally Made GeNose Covid-19 Detector Available at Indones

KOMPAS.com – Parents of school-aged children may face the dilemma of letting their child back to school or continuing school from home amid rising Covid-19 cases.

While many are concerned for the health of their children, the government is planning to open schools for in-class learning following the Covid-19 jab drive across the country.

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said that in-class learning could go back to normal in July.

In other news, Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry will begin to use GeNose, a locally made Covid-19 detector, at the country’s airports starting from April 1. The screening tool to detect the coronavirus through human breath has already been used in train stations.

Below are the editors’ picks stories published on Kompas.com:

In-Class Learning May Resume in July, Jokowi Says

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo said on Wednesday that teachers, educators, and lecturers would be prioritized for Covid-19 vaccinations, expecting students to return to in-class learning at the beginning of the second semester.

This was said by the President, popularly known as Jokowi, during his working visit to SMA 70 public high school in Bulungan, South Jakarta to get a closer look at how teachers, educators, and lecturers receive their first dose Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine.

“Today's vaccination program for educators and teaching staff has started. Everything ran smoothly," said Jokowi on February 24.

Jokowi targeted that five million teachers will get two doses of vaccines until next June. "At the beginning of the semester in July, everything [in-class learning] could go back to normal, and that's what we aim for," said Jokowi.

Accompanying him were Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim, and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

"We want to make sure that teachers and teaching staff complete the vaccination program at the end of June. So that in July, Insya Allah [God willing], schools can be opened," said Nadiem.

Nadiem said the frequency of face-to-face learning in schools would not be done every day.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/02/24/165257774/in-class-learning-may-resume-in-july-jokowi-says.

Indonesia's Virtual Police Unit Begins to Warn Social Media Users

Dok. Divisi Humas Polri A spokesperson for the National Police Inspector General Argo Yuwono (Center) speaks during a press conference in Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Friday, January 29, 2021.

A spokesperson for the National Police Inspector General Argo Yuwono said on Wednesday that the newly-established virtual police unit has started its activities.

Argo said three social media users have been warned for posting potential content that could be charged under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.

He said that the police has sent notification letters to three accounts. “Yesterday we wrote three [warning letters] and they have been sent already,” Argo told a press conference in Jakarta on February 24.

The activity began after a Circular No. SE/2/II/2021 was signed by the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

It was reported the virtual police officers will warn and explain a potential violation of an article of ITE Law, including its punishment, then will explain what needs to be done next.

The virtual police unit will first tackle the matter before the police's cybercrime unit take legal action.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/24/20244621/polisi-virtual-mulai-aktif-polri-sebut-3-akun-sudah-ditegur.

Locally Made GeNose Covid-19 Detector Available at Indonesia’s Airports in April

ANTARA FOTO/MUHAMMAD ADIMAJA An officer insert a pouch containing CO2 for testing it with GeNose at Pasar Senen Station, Jakarta, on Thursday, February 4, 2021. ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Adimaja/aww.

Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry will begin to use GeNose, a locally made Covid-19 detector, at the country’s airports starting from April 1, an official said on Tuesday, February 23.

The screening tool to detect the coronavirus through human breath has already been used in train stations in the country following the recent approval by the Ministry of Health.

“For the air transportation sector, it will be implemented on April 1 as some technical matters still need to be discussed further,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi told a virtual press conference.

He has also coordinated with the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Budi also instructed the ministry’s director general for Air Transportation Novie Riyanto to immediately prepare the regulations to support the plan.

The minister said that the use of the screening tool, which was developed by experts from Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM), was well-received in the railroad sector.
This could be a good lesson for stakeholders in the air transportation sector.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/02/24/180321774/locally-made-genose-covid-19-detector-available-at-indonesias-airports-in-april.