The Government Prepares Steps To Return Indonesian Citizens From Natuna To Their Respective Regions

Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto. (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - As many as 238 Indonesians are still at Raden Sadjad Air Base, Natuna Regency to be quarantined according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) after being sent home from Wuhan City, China due to the outbreak of the corona virus. The plan is for repatriation to be carried out after 14 days of quarantine.

To prepare for their return, Minister of Health (Menkes) Terawan Agus Putranto said the government would soon hold a meeting and discuss the mechanism.

"We will have a meeting if it passes Sunday, it's been more than a week. Well, there we discuss the details of what was done, where the address is," Terawan told reporters at the Kemenkopolhukam Office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Friday , 7 February.

Apart from holding a meeting, the government will also immediately hold outreach regarding the corona virus in the area of origin of residents who have been repatriated from the city of Wuhan, China. The goal is that they don't get a negative stigma from society.

"Socialization to the areas of his parents, to his neighbors, to his local governments. So that our Indonesian citizens are healthy. That is what is necessary," said the former Head of the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.

On that occasion, Terawan also explained that the Indonesian citizens in the quarantine area are in good condition and he hopes that there will be no health complaints until the quarantine period ends. He also said, there were a number of activities carried out by hundreds of people so that they were not bored.

"I hope they continue to be healthy, enjoy the activities that are made according to the direction of the psychologist. If there are no activities, daydreaming on their own, yes, devil passes by," he said with a smile.

It is known, Sunday, February 1 that the government managed to pick up 238 Indonesian citizens from Wuhan City, China after the outbreak of the corona virus and caused hundreds of deaths.

This number is less than the 245 residents who were to be picked up. The reason was that as many as four people did not return according to their wishes and three other people did not pass the health screening process.

Regarding the three people who could not return because of their health conditions, according to Terawan, if their condition had improved, the government would not be able to return home. The reason is that currently the Chinese government is still isolating the city of Wuhan.

He also said there was no need to worry about the condition of Indonesian citizens who did not return. This is because the local government and the embassy will take care of and monitor their situation.

"He is maintained in health by the government there (China) and is continuously connected with our consulate, as well as our embassy," he concluded.