Pontianak students attend online classes due to wildfire haze; respiratory cases rise

Students in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, are attending online classes as the city grapples with thick haze from land and forest fires. The municipal government has suspended face-to-face learning for kindergarten, early childhood, elementary, and junior high school students due to deteriorating air quality.

Mayor Edi Kamtono stated that air quality monitoring showed unhealthy levels, with particle concentrations exceeding 200 micrograms per cubic meter during the night. The haze is more concentrated near the surface in the early morning hours, leading to significantly poorer air quality then. The education department issued a circular mandating the shift to online learning until the air quality improves.

While no definitive end date for the suspension has been set, the government will reassess the situation based on air quality developments. Residents, especially children, are advised to limit outdoor activities and wear masks when necessary. Health authorities are preparing oxygen supplies in anticipation of a rise in acute respiratory infections (ISPA).

Preliminary reports from the Health Office indicate a 5% increase in ISPA cases. The city government is continuing to monitor the situation to understand the full impact of the air pollution on public health. The mayor stressed that the suspension will continue until air quality returns to moderate levels.