"Patients 1 and 2 reportedly have no other symptoms, but the doctors said they are suffering from psychological stress after their identities were published," Yurianto, concurrently director general of Disease Control and Prevention of the Health Ministry, stated at the Presidential Office.
Patients 1 and 2 are a 31-year old woman and her 64-year-old mother, the residents of Depok, West Java. The two are under medical treatment at the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital since March 1.
"They have psychological stress, and the results of laboratory testing of their specimens are still positive (for presence of coronavirus) after seven days. Hence, we will not discharge them from the hospital," he noted.
Yurianto believed that the laboratory test result did affect their emotional condition.
"Now, they are depressed after their identities were disclosed to public. As I have earlier said that the psychological factor would affect one's immunity system," he stated, adding that the hospital had provided a psychiatrist for them.
In the meantime, the health status of other coronavirus patients had improved further.
"The condition of patients 3 and 4 is much better, and they sought our guarantee to not disclose their identities," he revealed.
Indonesia has confirmed six coronavirus cases as of today. The first two cases were confirmed by President Joko Widodo on March 2, with patient 1 having come in direct contact with a Japanese, who had tested positive for the virus.
One of the patients is a crew member of the Diamond Princess cruise ship and is currently kept in isolation at the Persahabatan Hospital in Jakarta.
As of Sunday (March 8), the Health Ministry had completed laboratory testing for 620 specimens of patients kept under surveillance in 63 hospitals in 25 provinces. They were discharged from the hospital and suggested self-isolation in their respective houses.
The number of confirmed cases globally has reached 109,965 as of Monday, with the death toll reaching 3,824 and 61,941 people having recovered.
China has recorded 80,735 cases, while Italy, 7,375 cases; South Korea, 7,313 cases; and Iran, 6,566 cases.
Italy recorded 366 deaths, the highest death toll outside China that has reached 3,118.
Some 90 countries, including Indonesia, have confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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Translator: Desca Lidya N, Sri Haryati
Editor: Atman Ahdiat
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