Budi Karya Is Positive For COVID-19, Temporary Duty As Minister Of Transportation Is Luhut Binsar Panjaitan

Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The government announced the health status of the Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi (BKS) who was tested positive for the corona virus or COVID-19. Budi Karya is currently being treated at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital. Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan was appointed as a temporary replacement.

Minister of State Secretary Pratikno said the family had given permission from his party and the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital to convey the status of Budi Karya who was positive for COVID-19. As Minister of Transportation, Budi's mobility is very high, he is at the forefront and is actively dealing with the impact of the virus.

"Of course, there are so many tasks of the Ministry of Transportation involved. Starting from evacuation, providing facilities that require the function of the Ministry of Transportation. Once again this is his involvement. His hard work is extraordinary to be part of handling the impact. I have received a report from the Minister of Health that the condition of the Minister of Transportation the better, "he said, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Saturday, March 14.

Pratikno revealed that currently the government and all elements involved are tracking the interactions Budi Karya has carried out over the past 14 days. In addition, further treatment has also been prepared.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), continued Praktikno, had assigned the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan to temporarily change the duties and functions of the Minister of Transportation. This is to ensure that the duties of the relevant ministries are not interrupted.

"The government is swiftly tracking so that the impact can be neutralized. The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs will be appointed as the Minister of Transportation," he explained.

Praktikno's statement was confirmed by the deputy head of RSPAD Gatot Soebroto Budi Sulistya. Dis revealed that there were government officials who tested positive for COVID-19 with patient identification number 76.

"We convey that one of the patients number 76 is an official in the ministry," said Budi.

Budi revealed, the condition of BKS before testing positive for COVID-19. According to him, the complaints experienced by BKS were short of breath.

"So initially the comorbid illness was accompanied by the development of shortness of breath. It was further examined and currently he is being treated and this afternoon the team said there was improvement. He is one of the officials who does a lot of visits, including vital places in this country," he explained.

Previously, the government spokesperson for handling COVID-19 Achmad Yurianto denied reports regarding Budi Karya's health, who was said to be positive for COVID-19 and was in an isolation room. He said that as of today the Minister of Transportation has not been positive.

"It's still not positive," said Yurianto at the BNPB Office, Jakarta, Saturday, March 14.

Meanwhile, the Special Staff of the Ministry of Transportation, Adita Irawati, explained that his boss is currently sick and is being treated at the hospital. However, Budi's illness was not due to COVID-19. But because of typhus and asthma.

"Responding to the issues currently circulating regarding the health condition of the Indonesian Minister of Transportation, the following is conveyed that the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, is currently being treated at the hospital due to typhus and asthma that he has suffered for a long time," Adita confirmed to reporters, Friday, March 13th.