Beware Of The New Variant Of COVID-19 Entering The Return Of Indonesian Citizens From Sabah To North Kalimantan

JAKARTA - The Center for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI) Nunukan District Technical Implementation Unit, North Kalimantan welcomes the plan to repatriate 1,447 Indonesian citizens (WNI) and Indonesian workers (TKI) from Sabah, Malaysia prioritizing health issues by anticipating the entry of a new variant of COVID-19.

"All forms of preparation are in the maturation stage, starting from the reception at Tunon Taka Harbor to the accommodation of Rusunawa on Ujang Dewa Street, South Nunukan Village", said Head of Nunukan BP2MI, AKBP FJ Ginting, in Nunukan as reported by Antara, Thursday, September 30.

This is the concern of the visit of one of the deputies at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture to Nunukan Regency recently related to COVID-19 during the repatriation of Indonesian citizens/TKIs from Sabah.

Ginting said that the central government certainly did not want the entry of new variants to Indonesia brought by Indonesian citizens/TKI from Malaysia, so preparations had to be made.

Although the thousands of Indonesian citizens/TKI who will be repatriated by the Malaysian government have gone through the PCR test and some may have been vaccinated, vigilance is still being exercised in Nunukan Regency by tightening the SOP for welcoming them to their accommodation.

The Head of BP2MI Nunukan said that when he arrived at Tunon Taka Port, he immediately carried out an examination in the form of a PCR or antigen test to all concerned Indonesian citizens/TKI. After that, they were taken to the shelter in Nunukan Flats to be quarantined while waiting for the results of the PCR test.

"Even though there are thousands of Indonesian citizens/TKIs who were repatriated from Malaysia in stages until December 2021, we still have to be vigilant about COVID-19, especially anticipating the entry of new variants", said Ginting.