All Citizens Who Gathered When Jokowi In NTT Tested, The Results Were All Negative

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Head of Protocol and Communication Section of the Regional Secretary of Sikka Regency, Edmon Bura, said that there were no residents who tested positive for COVID-19 in the crowd of President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) visit some time ago.

This was discovered after the Tracing Team of the Covid-19 Task Force in the Sikka Regency conducted a rapid antigen test on 109 residents at five points of Jokowi's crowd last weekend.

"The results were all negative, and this morning according to the Regent's direction for the following five days, the tests were conducted again. For the same person or different people, we will coordinate with the tracing team first", said Edmon when contacted Tuesday, March 2.

Edmon said his party had mobilized five teams at points where the crowds were located. The first starts from the front of the airport gate around Hotel Permata Sari to the Waioti gas station with 18 residents.

Second, from the Waioti SPBU to the Lokaria Terminal, there are 24 residents. Third, there are 22 people from the Lokaria Terminal to Geliting Market. Fourth, Geliting Market to Waigete-Nangahale as many as 22 residents, and the last point at the T-junction of Nangahale to Napun Gete Dam as many as 23 residents.

"We interviewed the residents there, from the existing spots, there were several questions if the details of the Task Force knew. Then the residents were asked whether they were willing to take samples", he said.

In addition to conducting tracing, the Sikka Regency COVID-19 Task Force said Edmon, also invited residents in the crowd to come to the nearest Puskesmas (Public Health). Residents can request a free rapid antigen test.

"Tracing will still be carried out in each Puskesmas. Later there will be additional questions, whether to join the crowd or not during the president's visit", he said.

Previously, a crowd of residents occurred when Jokowi visited Sikka Regency, NTT, on Tuesday, February 23. The moment the crowd welcomed Jokowi was recorded in a video circulating on social media.

Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin conveyed that the crowd during Jokowi's work visit to NTT was a form of enthusiasm for residents. Bey said the community was waiting for the president's entourage by the side of the road.