In April-August period, as many as 1,009 COVID-19 patients were evacuated using school buses owned by Jakarta Transportation Agency (Dishub) School Transportation Management Unit (UPAS).

It is requested by Health Agency (Dinkes) because of high demand for transporting patients to Wisma Atlet or COVID-19 referral hospitals.

Jakarta Dishub UPAS Head, Ali Murthadho conveyed, his side deployed 3 medium school buses with capacity 20 seats and 2 small school buses with capacity 17 seats for COVID-19 patients evacuation.

"It is requested by Health Agency (Dinkes) because of high demand for transporting patients to Wisma Atlet or COVID-19 referral hospitals. We have 13 crews recruited from UPAS who have been chosen for their skills and passed the medical test. We also equip them with personal protective equipment (PPE)," he explained, Monday (8/31).

He informed, there were 5 special buses to evacuate the COVID-19 patients that had been modified by applying an insulation pattern in the bus and disconnecting the AC center. Every bus operated has been sterlized and decontaminated before and after evacuating the patients.

"Our crews on duty also carry out self-isolation for 3 days at UPAS mess. Later, we will monitor whether our crews have the symptoms or not," he said.