Firmly, BP2MI Denies That COVID-19 Cases Are Increasing Due To The Return Of Indonesian Migrant Workers

Head of BP2MI Benny Rhamdani/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus is widely associated with the return of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) or Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI) to Indonesia. The news was denied by the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI).

According to the Head of BP2MI Benny Rhamdani, Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) or Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI) who return to Indonesia must be declared negative when they will fly by airplane.

The health check is carried out in the country of placement for Indonesian citizens or PMIs. The responsibility of BP2MI, said Benny, is when they arrive in the country.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the task force's authority to handle positive and negative inspections at every airport and port entrance.

"We are only part of the supporting system, for handling the task force. We pick them up at the airport, collect data, after they are declared negative, for example by the task force, they still undergo quarantine," said Benny when confirmed by VOI, Wednesday, February 9.

Meanwhile, for PMIs who tested positive, he continued, they had to undergo special treatment until they were finally declared negative.

"There should not be a stigma to PMI as if there were PMIs returning home then one or two of the thousands of people who returned to Indonesia were declared positive. It's as if PMI is a factor or cause of a new virus, is it because of COVID-19, or is it because of Omicron," he said. again.

Benny said, because every human being, both foreign citizens (WNA) and Indonesian citizens (WNI), when entering a country, all of them have the potential to be tested positive.

"There should be no stigmatization as if PMI is the cause or factor for the entry of the COVID-19 or Omicron virus outbreak. We will continue to follow the scheme issued by the government through circulars. We will follow all the references," he said.

As is known, COVID-19 cases in Indonesia will experience an upward trend in 2022. The government also appeals to the public not to panic and continue to apply health protocols.