Although there were 62 suspects, all of them tested negative after being checked. We should be grateful
Bogor, West Java (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) confirmed that 62 coronavirus suspects in Indonesia had proven negative for the presence of the infection.

"Although there were 62 suspects, all of them tested negative after being checked. We should be grateful," President Jokowi remarked during a plenary cabinet meeting at the Bogor Palace here on Tuesday.

On Monday (Feb 10), the Indonesian Ministry of Health confirmed it had found some 62 suspected cases of coronavirus in Indonesia. The 62 specimens from the suspects had been sent by 28 hospitals in 16 provinces and examined.

President Jokowi lauded the hard work of all ministries and institutions, especially the Ministry of Health, as a precautionary measure against the entry of coronavirus into Indonesia.

"I think this demonstrates our vigilance, caution, and additional hard work, so that the virus does not enter Indonesia," President Jokowi emphasized.

President Jokowi called on his staff to be more active in notifying the public pertaining to the handling as a precautionary measure against the entry of coronavirus as well as the developments of the virus in foreign countries.

The Government of Indonesia is serious in taking precautionary measures against the threat of coronavirus that has claimed the lives of 1,013 people in the world.

"I request the media to continuously inform in the morning, afternoon, and evening, so the information is really concrete. There are facts, so that outsiders will be able to gain a perception that the Indonesian Government is really serious in handling this," the president stated.

The government is currently also observing as many as 285 Indonesian citizens, comprising 238 Indonesians returning from Wuhan, five officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and flight crew members on Natuna Island, Riau Islands Province.

Until Tuesday, all Indonesian citizens returning from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, are in good health while being quarantined in Natuna.

Related news: WHO medical officer believes Indonesia adept at detecting coronavirus
Related news: VP encourages PHRI to innovate over coronavirus outbreak
Related news: Majority of Indonesians have left mainland China: ambassador
Related news: 78 Indonesian crew members being quarantined in Japan over coronavirus

Translator: Indra Arief P, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2020