The evacuation process will use an aircraft and we will apply strict health protocols
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian citizens (WNI) working as crew members of the Diamond Princess cruise currently in Yokohama, Japan, will be airlifted, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has said. "The evacuation process will use an aircraft and we will apply strict health protocols," Effendy said here Thursday.

The Indonesian crew has been quarantined on the ship, but on arrival in Indonesia, the government will again conduct tests, including examining the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), DNA testing to identify viruses.

The evacuation will be carried out in coordination with the Japanese Government.

From Diamond Princess, they will then be taken to Sebaru Kecil Island, Thousand Islands District, Jakarta, to undergo observation.

"Later it will be arranged in such a way and it becomes the domain or responsibility of the Ministry of Health and the Minister of Health later," Effendy noted.

Meanwhile, of the 78 Indonesian citizens who worked on the Diamond Princess, nine tested positive for the coronavirus of which one has recovered, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi explained.

"That means of the 78, minus eight, 70 crew members are being allowed to return to Indonesia. But based on information from the company, two of them chose to remain and do not want to be evacuated," she said.

The evacuation was voluntary, and if there were residents who decided to stay, the government would not force them to join the evacuation, Retno said

The number of Indonesian citizens who will be evacuated from Diamond Princess may still change until the evacuation process begins, as per the changing scenario, she added.

The government is currently transporting 188 Indonesian citizens from the World Dream cruise ship using warship KRI Dr. Soeharso to the observation facility on Sebaru Kecil Island. (INE)

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Translator: Indriani, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
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