JAKARTA - Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto admits that he is surprised by the excitement of the public in responding to the spread of the corona virus or COVID-19 so far. According to him, this virus is actually an ordinary thing and does not need to be exaggerated and the number of casualties is actually less than the flu sufferers in the world.
"We have flu that usually happens to us, coughs and colds which have a higher death rate than corona. But why (corona) can be so excited," Terawan said at a press conference at the Ministry of Health's Office, Jalan Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, Monday , March 2.
It is known, based on information on the website of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Department of Health and Public Service (CDC), flu sufferers from October 1, 2019 to February 22, 2020, ranged from 32-45 million. From this figure, 18-46 thousand people died. That's just in America.
As for the COVID-19 virus, it is known that up to now the death toll has reached 3,048 people spread across various regions and those who have been cured have reached 45,155 people. The total number of those infected with this virus reached 89,197 people.
Terawan continued, he was also surprised that many people were looking for or even wearing masks even though they were in good health at this time. Masks, he said, should be used by those who are sick.
"People are looking for masks, even though it is clear that they are for those who are sick. At home they will definitely be given. Asking for certain to be given if they are sick. If they are healthy, asking to go to the hospital is also strange, the right for sick people is taken away," he said while denying the government's opinion that there were two people who are now exposed to the virus in Indonesia.
According to him, currently Indonesia is ready to face the virus, which initially spread from the city of Wuhan, China. So that the term missed is not quite right. "The term missing does not exist. It's been several months (just the transmission of COVID-19). We are already extraordinary," he said.
Previously, 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 corona virus was delivered directly by President Joko Widodo. This is the first patient who is positive for this virus from China.
"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.
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