East Nusa Tenggara Fisherman, Victim Of The Sinking Ship Now In Australia Exposed To COVID-19

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

KUPANG - A fisherman from Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Melki Giri, who had a shipwreck accident in the waters of Pasir Island, Timor Sea was reported to have been exposed to COVID-19 based on a medical test at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin-Northern Territory.

"Melki, we haven't been able to visit because after undergoing the examination it was found that he was exposed to COVID-19," said Yulius Mada Kaka, Acting Consular Officer of the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia in Darwin, as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, March 23.

Before his health check, according to Yulius, Melki did not feel any symptoms, such as flu, fever, body aches, and sore throat.

Currently, Melki is undergoing self-isolation in a different room from his colleague, Abel Kanuk, who is currently being treated intensively because he is in a weak condition due to being at sea for too long.

"We have visited Abel and his condition is still weak, so he is still being treated by health workers in Darwin," said Yulius.

The handling procedure carried out by the Australian government to the three Indonesian citizens, especially those from NTT, was called Yulius humanis and maximal.

He expressed his gratitude to the Australian government for taking care of the three fishermen from NTT, of which two were in Darwin and one in Perth, Western Australia.

With reports that Melki Giri was exposed to COVID-19, currently there are two fishermen from Rote Island who had a boat accident while at sea and were exposed to COVID-19 after Riki Balu in Perth was reported to have been exposed to COVID-19 and is still critical.

Regarding repatriation, he said, with the health conditions of the three fishermen from NTT not being maximized, there is a possibility that the process will take longer.

"It looks like the repatriation process is taking a while because Melki was also exposed to COVID-19. It could be more than a month they were in Australian jurisdiction," he said.