2 Out Of 11 People COVID-19 Positive After Forcibly Taking The Bodies Of COVID-19 Patients In Kupang

JAKARTA - Two of the 11 family members who forcibly took the bodies of COVID-19 patients on July 17, 2021, tested positive for COVID-19 after going through a rapid antigen test on Thursday, July 22.

"On Thursday (22/7) the Kupang City Police together with the Kupang City Health Service carried out antigen tests on 11 family members of COVID-19 patients whose bodies were forcibly removed, the results were two positive people," said Head of Public Relations of the East Nusa Tenggara Police, Pol. Grand Commissioner Rishian Krisna B. in Kupang, reported by Antara, Friday, July 23.

The former Head of the North Central Timor (TTU) Police said that the two family members of the COVID-19 patient who tested positive were the patient's husband and children.

Previously, on Saturday, July 17, GMN, the body of COVID-19 was forcibly taken by his family at a funeral with the COVID-19 protocol.

The family does not accept if the deceased family is tested positive for COVID-19. They want to be brought home to be buried.

However, in the end, the local police acted quickly to provide understanding through negotiations between members of the Kupang City Police and the deceased's family.

"After a long debate, the family allowed the COVID-19 Task Force to bury the body of the COVID-19 patient in a cemetery with COVID protocols at the Batukadera Public Cemetery, Kupang City," he said.

Meanwhile, representatives from the family of the deceased COVID-19 patient Abdullah Ulomado apologized to all the people of East Nusa Tenggara, especially the City of Kupang, for their disturbing actions.

"The family apologizes for the mistakes that occurred which resulted in the husband and child of the deceased being infected with COVID-19," he said.

Abdullah hopes that this incident will be a lesson for the people of Kupang City not to be imitated.

The family also urges that if there is a notification from any hospital, health center, or health center that the patient is confirmed positive, they must follow the rules from the applicable government.