Ministry Of Health: 14 Hajj Confirmed Positive For COVID-19

ILLUSTRATION DOK VOI

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health noted that 14 hajj pilgrims who had returned to Indonesia from Saudi Arabia were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19.

"Out of a total of 9,551 hajj pilgrims who have returned to the country, 14 have tested positive for COVID-19," said Head of the Health Ministry's Hajj Health Center, Budi Sylvana, as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 19.

He said as many as 13 pilgrims who were exposed to COVID-19 were reported from the Surabaya Debarkation, while one other was reported from the Solo Debarkation.

Symptoms arising from infection with SARS-CoV-2 that cause COVID-19 are all mild, so the patient care procedure according to the current health protocol is self-isolation.

"In the meantime, the symptoms are mild. So they are self-isolating in their respective homes," he said.

During the self-isolation process, said Budi, pilgrims who have COVID-19 will continue to monitor their health independently for the next 21 days in their respective places.

The Ministry of Health has distributed Hajj Congregation Health Alert Cards (K3JH) to every pilgrim who arrives at the debarkation containing a history of health screening while in Saudi Arabia.

K3JH is useful for monitoring the health condition of pilgrims considering that the incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19 is around two weeks after close contact with patients.