KPU Chairman Arief Budiman Is Positive For COVID-19

Chairman of the KPU Arief Budiman (kpu.go.id)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Arief Budiman stated that he was infected with COVID-19. Arief tested positive for COVID-19 while carrying out a swab test on the evening of September 17.

"On the evening of September 17, we conducted a swab test to be used as a condition for attending a meeting at the Bogor Palace on September 18 with a positive result," said Arief in a short message to journalists, Friday, September 18.

That way, the meeting activities at the Bogor Palace today are represented by other KPU members. Previously, Arief conducted a rapid test with non-reactive results on September 16.

Currently, Arief is undergoing independent isolation for 14 days. Arief admitted that he was positive for COVID-19 without experiencing any symptoms.

"On the 18th in the morning, we have started self-quarantine because there are no symptoms, cough, fever, runny nose or shortness of breath," he said.

Arief asked all parties to pray for him to get well soon. "Please pray from all parties so that health can be given to us all. Hopefully health and safety are always devoted to the Indonesian people," he said.

Some time before, KPU Commissioner Evi Novida Ginting Manik also tested positive for COVID-19 on September 10.

Arief said, Evi was confirmed positive for COVID-19 after undergoing a swab test on Monday, September 7 yesterday. Evi's test results came out on Wednesday, September 9 and tested positive for the new coronavirus.

According to Arief, Evi is included in the category of COVID-19 cases without symptoms. "Positive but without symptoms. So, no pain, no heat, no cough, no colds, just nothing," said Arief.

Evi is a KPU commissioner who is assigned to the Technical Implementation Division. While undergoing the 2020 Pilkada stages in the current pandemic era, Evi has a crucial task.

He is in charge of coordinating the nomination of election participants, voting, counting votes, and recapitulating vote counts, determining results and documenting election and election results, as well as other technical activities.