Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is having polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted on all employees after seven people within the body got infected with the coronavirus.
"We will immediately conduct swab tests on all employees in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the KPK," the commission's acting spokesperson Ali Fikri said in a statement on Wednesday.
Ali said the tests would be held in two phases, with the first phase taking place on Wednesday and Thursday this week and the second phase from Monday to Thursday next week.
In addition, the KPK is reinforcing a number of protocols, including rearranging elevator capacity and spraying disinfectant periodically in its Merah Putih building and at the Anticorruption Learning Center (ACLC) in South Jakarta.
The antigraft body is also providing a hotline for emergency information services, requiring all employees to wear a mask both in the office and outside as well as rearranging seats and prohibiting collective use of personal equipment.
Since May, as many as seven KPK employees have tested positive for COVID-19, five of whom have recovered, Ali said.
One infected employee was still in self-isolation, while the other one was being treated at a hospital and in a stable condition while awaiting a follow-up test result, he added.
The KPK has also tracked down close contacts of the seven employees to minimize the potential for transmission.