Referring to the local customs and excise office's information, the Chinese vessel is to load cements at the port of PT SDIC-Papua Cement Indonesia's cargo terminal, according to Head of the provincial administration's Legal and Human Rights Office Anthonius Ayorbaba.
The Manokwari customs and excise officials have coordinated with related authorities to deal with the ongoing concerns caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, he said, adding that the cargo ship is only carrying crew members.
"A tightened surveillance is needed. The immigration, seaport's health office, customs and excise office, local government, and several other related agencies should develop a synergy," Ayorbaba said.
In preventing the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the Indonesian Government has restricted travel to and from mainland China, and conducted a 14-day quarantine for Indonesians returning to Indonesia from China, he said.
West Papua Health Office Head Otto Parorongan said earlier that the provincial government had taken precautionary measures at both airports and seaports, and is paying special attention to companies employing foreign workers, including those from China.
The coronavirus outbreak has reportedly caused the deaths of more than 2,700 people and infected at least 80,000 in different parts of the world, particularly in mainland China.
The COVID-19 outbreak, which initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, has forced several airlines, including national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, to suspend direct flights to and from mainland China.
Related news: Garuda Indonesia suspends to-and-fro flights for Mainland China
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The ongoing concerns surrounding this deadly virus outbreak has also compelled Dream Cruises to suspend departures of its cruise ships, including World Dream and Explorer Dream.
According to this cruise line's website, World Dream cancelled departures from Keelung from February 11, 2020 to March 20, 2020, as well as on March 23, March 27 and March 28, 2020.
The Explorer Dream ship's departure has also been cancelled from March 1 to April 4, 2020, while the operations of Genting Dream was suspended from Singapore starting February 23, 2020.
The decision was taken to assist in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and due to tightening travel restrictions by various countries. Genting Dream will resume operations in Singapore on March 27, 2020, according to cruise line officials.
North Bali and Surabaya are on the list of the cruise line's destinations, apart from Port Klang and Penang, Malaysia, as well as Phuket, Thailand.
Related news: Coronavirus outbreak disrupts tourist boom from China
Related news: Bali refuses entry to 15 foreigners recently traveled to China
Translator: Toyiban, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
