(30 Aug 2021) School bells in some parts of Indonesia's capital rang again after classes closed by the coronavirus for more than a year were allowed to start reopening on Monday, as daily new COVID-19 cases continues to decline.
A total of 610 schools that have passed the required tests by the Jakarta Education Agency reopened their doors for the first time since the pandemic started, though with many precautions still in place.
The city administration had initially planned to reopen schools in June, but the plan was postponed as another wave of infections triggered by the highly contagious delta variant engulfed the country.  
There are about 5,341 schools in Jakarta, ranging from elementary to high school, according to government data.
"I feel nervous," said Akila Malawa, a 12-year-old student going to class for the first time in more than a year at the Suluh junior high school. "But I'm so happy to see my friends again."
"I hope that coronavirus in Indonesia will end, so, I can go to school and meet friends every day," said her classmate, Amalwin Harjodisastra.
Schools in several other cities outside Jakarta were also to reopen on Monday.
Even as schools reopen, government guidelines for school facilities have changed many class traditions.
Chatting in class is not allowed, face masks must be worn at all times and no one can leave class for recess. Schools must slash class capacity to 50% by holding classes in two shifts. Teachers must be vaccinated.
In-person schooling will be blended with remote learning and gradually increase based on the government's evaluation of the situation.
Indonesia's Health Ministry reported 7,427 new infections in the past 24 hours on Sunday, the lowest daily total since June 9. There has been a steady decline since the peak on July 15, when more than 56,000 cases were recorded in a single day.
Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, has recorded more than 4 million infections since the pandemic began.

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