IDAI Submits Recommendation for PTM 2022

The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) issued a recommendation regarding Face-to-face Learning (PTM) during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sunday, January 2, 2022.

Chairman of IDAI, Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, Sp.A(K) explained, the implementation of this PTM must consider several things. Among them, the Omicron variant has been found in Indonesia.

Then, data in other countries, namely the United States, European and African countries regarding the increase in cases of Covid-19 in children in the last few weeks. Most cases of sick children are children who have not received the Covid-19 vaccine.

"There is a face-to-face learning policy, several innovations in learning methods have been applied by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the importance of the education process for school-age children," he explained.

Given this, continued Piprim, IDAI recommends opening face-to-face learning, if 100 percent of teachers and school staff have received the Covid-19 vaccination.

"It is preferable that children who can enter school are children who have been immunized against Covid-19, completed 2 times and without comorbidities," he explained.

In addition, schools must still comply with health protocols, especially focusing on several things, namely the mandatory use of masks for everyone in the school environment, the availability of hand washing facilities, maintaining distance, not eating together.

This includes ensuring air circulation is maintained and activating an active screening system per day for children, teachers, school officials and their families who have suspected symptoms of Covid-19.

For the category of children aged 12-18 years, face-to-face learning can be carried out 100 percent in conditions, there is no increase in Covid-19 cases in the area, there is no local transmission of Omicron in the area.

Face-to-face learning can be done using a hybrid method (50 percent offline, 50 percent offline). online) in a condition where Covid-19 cases are still found but the positivity rate is below 8 percent.

Meanwhile, for the category of children aged 6-11 years, face-to-face learning can be carried out using a hybrid method (50 percent offline, 50 percent online) with a note the absence of an increase in Covid-19 cases in the area and the absence of local transmission of Omicron in the area.

For face-to-face learning, a hybrid method can be used (50 percent online, 50 percent offline) if there are still cases of Covid-19 but the positivity rate is below 8 percent, local transmission of Omicron can still be controlled, and the recommended outdoor facility is the school yard. , parks, sports centers, child-friendly integrated public spaces.

"For the category of children under 6 years old, face-to-face learning schools are not recommended until it is stated that there are no new cases of Covid-19 or there is no increase in new cases and schools can provide synchronization and asynchronous learning with online methods and activate parental involvement at home in activities. outdoors," he said.

The school and parents can carry out creative activities such as activating local games at home, conducting independent outdoor learning in the open for each family with modules directed by the school such as gardening activities, nature exploration and so on. IDAI recommendations.

"Children with comorbidities can first consult with a pediatrician. Child comorbidities include diseases such as malignancy, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, autoimmune disease, chronic lung disease, obesity, hypertension, and others," he explained.

IDAI also said that it urges them to immediately complete routine immunizations for children aged 6 years and over.

Then, the child is considered to have received protection from the Covid-19 immunization if he has received two complete doses and the protection is declared sufficient after 2 weeks after the last immunization injection.

"Schools and the government give freedom to parents and families to choose face-to-face or online learning, there should be no coercion," he said.

In addition, for children who choose online learning, schools and the government must ensure the availability of online learning processes.

"We also recommend a complete list of health protocols and the mitigation process, referring to the previous IDAI recommendations," he said.

The decision to open or close schools must consider whether there are new cases of Covid-19 in schools or not

.Piprim also added that this recommendation is dynamic in nature, adapted to the latest developments. (tiwi)**