Returning From The Holy Land, 1 Hajj From West Kalimantan Positive For COVID-19

Returning from the Holy Land, the hajj group had a COVID-19 antigen swab test at Batam's Hang Nadim Airport, Riau Islands, Wednesday 27 July. (PHOTO BETWEEN-Jessica)

BATAM - A hajj group 2 from North Kayong Regency, West Kalimantan Province (West Kalimantan) has tested positive for COVID-19. The confirmation was after the Hajj was tested for the corona virus after arriving from the Holy Land.

"From the results of taking the PCR swab test for 11 pilgrims in batch 2 who arrived in Batam on Wednesday (July 27), there was 1 pilgrim who tested positive for COVID-19 from the results of the PCR examination," said Head of the Health Division of the Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) Hang Nadim Batam Debarkation, Achmad Farchanny in Batam, Riau Islands, Thursday 28 July.

"Congregants who are positive for COVID-19 are in good health and undergoing isolation at the Batam Hajj Dormitory," he added.

He explained that the congregation will undergo a period of quarantine in the secretariat room that has been prepared by PPIH Debarkation Hang Nadim Batam for 10 days.

However, the PCR swab test will be taken again on the fifth day of the quarantine period. If the PCR result is negative, the congregation can be sent back to their place of origin.

However, if the PCR results are still positive, the congregation will continue quarantine until the 10th day.

Meanwhile, Head of Information and Public Relations of PPIH Debarkation Hang Nadim Batam, Abu Sufyan, said the pilgrims who tested negative for COVID-19 had returned to the group.

"Thank God the pilgrims who tested positive have received treatment according to the protocol, the pilgrims who were declared negative immediately returned to the group, and continued the journey back to their area of origin," he said, according to Antara.

Previously, on Wednesday, July 27, as many as 10 pilgrims from the Hang Nadim Batam Debarkation 2nd batch hajj from West Kalimantan Province were sampled for a PCR swab test after the results of the antigen swab test were declared reactive.

In addition to the 10 pilgrims, the Coordinator of the Section for the Handling of High Risk Congregations (risti) PPIH Debarkation Hang Nadim Batam, dr. Romer Simanungkalit in Batam, Wednesday said there was a pilgrim whose body temperature exceeded 37.5 degrees, and a PCR swab test was taken.

"A pilgrim was detected with a fever because his temperature exceeded 37.5 degrees Celsius, then 10 people had reactive antigen results, so we did PCR for BTH 02," he said.