They no longer receive special treatment. We continue to monitor them through health alert cards. In case of disturbance, they can bring the cards for a direct checkupJakarta (ANTARA) - All the 78 Indonesian nationals aboard Japan's Diamond Princess cruise liner have been declared healthy after they were put under observation for the coronavirus, a health official has said. "They no longer receive special treatment. We continue to monitor them through health alert cards. In case of disturbance, they can bring the cards for a direct checkup," Director of Health Surveillance and Quarantine of the Indonesian Health Ministry, Drg R Vensya Sitohang, said at a press conference at the Integrated Information Center for COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) at the Bina Graha Building in the Presidential Palace compounds in Jakarta Wednesday,
The World Health Organization (WHO) health protocol also applies to the handling of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, he said.
The handling of the health cases is also based upon Presidential Instruction No. 4 of 2019. President Joko Widodo has instructed all ministries and non-ministerial government institutions to work together to handle the pandemic case such as coronavirus, according to Sihotang.
The 78 Indonesian nationals, employed as crew members of the cruise liner, are being quarantined in the Yokohama waters, Japan, after some of its passengers were found to have contracted the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
The cruise liner carried 3,700 passengers and crew members.
In accordance with the health protocol, the quarantine process at the cruise liner will last for 14 days, from February 5, 2020.
On February 7, some 47 of the cruise liner's passengers were found to have been infected with the coronavirus. They were all shifted and isolated at a hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The Indonesians put under observation in Natuna District, Riau Islands Province shortly after arriving from the Chinese province of Hubei, are in good health, Sihotang also stated during the press conference.
Health officers have intensively monitored their health, he added.
During the observation, a number of doctors and psychologists also accompanied them, he said. "Their food is also well kept and waste is also well managed," he said.
Related news: Some tourist resorts in Bintan cease operations over corona outbreak
Related news: All 62 coronavirus suspects tested negative: Jokowi
Translator: Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga/Suh
Editor: Mulyo Sunyoto
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
