Two Indonesians Affected By The COVID-19 Virus After Contact With A Japanese Citizen

Illustrations (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Two residents contracted the COVID-19 virus after coming into contact with a Japanese national. This finding is the first case in Indonesian territory, where the government has so far admitted that there has been no spread of the virus.

The announcement of the existence of residents infected with the virus originating from the City of Wuhan, China was delivered directly by President Joko Widodo.

"Last week there was information that a Japanese person who went to Indonesia then stayed in Malaysia and checked there was positive for the corona. The team from Indonesia immediately traced this Japanese person to Indonesia to whom he visited, met whom he traced and met," he said. Jokowi at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday, March 2.

After it was found, from the search results there were two people who then tested positive for the COVID-19 virus due to contact with the Japanese citizen. The relationship between the two is mother and child aged 64 years and 31 years.

"It was checked and this morning I received a report from the Minister of Health that this mother and her daughter were positive for corona," said Jokowi.

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto added that the two people infected with the COVID-19 virus are currently being isolated at the Sulianti Saroso Central Infection Hospital (RSPI), Jakarta. Terawan added that this isolation was carried out so that they would not be in contact with others.

When detected on Sunday, March 1, Terawan said, the Ministry of Health immediately conducted an examination by visiting their home. Now, their house has been isolated.

"The house was checked. Mother and child, 61 years and 31 years. Already doing isolation at home. Especially in Jakarta, in the Depok area," said Terawan.

In addition, President Jokowi explained, the government has prepared more than 100 hospitals that are ready to carry out isolation if there is a spread of the virus with a predetermined standard.

"We also have equipment in accordance with international standards. We also have sufficient reagent preparations, we also have a joint team that I have never conveyed. The joint TNI, Polri and civilian team," said the former governor of DKI Jakarta.

In addition to preparing hospitals and teams to deal with the virus, Jokowi emphasized that there is already a budget to deal with this virus. However, he did not explain how much the existing budget was.

He also emphasized that handling this virus is now a priority for the government. "Because if we are not serious about handling this, if not taken seriously this is very dangerous," he concluded.