Dozens Of People Exposed To COVID-19 Refugee Cluster In Cianjur

CIANJUR - Dozens of refugees who were victims of landslides and landslides in Cibeber District, Cianjur, West Java, were exposed to COVID-19 after a rapid test and antigen swab test were carried out. This finding became the first refugee cluster in Cianjur.

"Those who were suspected of being exposed to as many as 56 people were immediately isolated in a separate room, precisely on the second floor of the madrasa building. While quick tests and swabs were carried out on 96 refugees who lived in one room," said Cibeber sub-district head, Ali Akbar, quoted by Antara, Friday. , June 18.

The tracking of dozens of refugees who were exposed, starting with a refugee who complained of a sore throat, fever and loss of smell, so the task force immediately carried out a quick test and swab with positive results for COVID-19.

Finding this, the task force immediately carried out the same search and test for refugees who lived in one room because until the third week their houses affected by the landslide could not be occupied.

"We are still coordinating with the Cianjur Task Force regarding maximum isolation efforts so that it does not affect other refugees. The 56 positive people have been separated from the refugees downstairs," he said.

He explained that dozens of refugees were suspected of being exposed to the high number of visits from outsiders to the refugee camps, so that his party would limit the number of visits from outside, including donors who wanted to distribute aid.

It was recorded that until now, 241 residents from two villages, Cibokor and Girimukti, still survive in the refugee camps because their houses cannot be occupied due to landslides. Efforts to clean up landslide material in the form of mud and soil that have entered the house are still being carried out.

The head of PMI Cianjur, Rudi Syachdiar Hidayat, said that from a long time ago, his party had advised the relevant agencies and the Cianjur BPBD, to anticipate by conducting rapid tests and swabs because hundreds of refugees were vulnerable to being exposed to dangerous viruses.

"Because it has happened, what can we say because since the evacuation occurred, we have suggested that we immediately do a quick test and swab. Currently, we are coordinating with various layers to provide a more comfortable isolation location and not integrated with other refugees," he said.