We call on our community members to remain alert and knowledgeable, so that, in the early stage, they are aware of whether they belong to a high-risk group and, if yes, what to doJakarta (ANTARA) - Muhammadiyah's COVID-19 Command Center launched a public awareness campaign on ways to reduce risks of contracting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, urging public at large to apply preventive measures for safeguarding their health.
"We call on our community members to remain alert and knowledgeable, so that, in the early stage, they are aware of whether they belong to a high-risk group and, if yes, what to do," the center's head, Corona Rintawan, notified journalists here on Tuesday.
As part of this public awareness campaign, Rintawan called on the public, at large, to be proactive in the lookout for factors that may increase their risks of ailing from the symptoms of COVID-19 and measures to prevent them from being infected.
In the meantime, a patient was discharged from Jakarta's Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital (RSPI) after a comprehensive medical examination confirmed that the patient was healthy and negative for the presence of COVID-19.
Following the return of this patient, the RSPI is currently treating nine COVID-19 suspected patients in its wards, RSPI's Director for Medical and Nursing Affairs Dyani Kusumowardhani revealed in a press conference.
Six of the nine patients currently being treated in RSPI's isolation wards are confirmed to have been infected by the deadly virus, while three others remain under the hospital's observation after becoming symptomatic with influenza, fever, cough, and shortness of breath, she revealed.
The Indonesian government has put in place precautionary measures since the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak that first struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019.
In addition to installing thermal scanners at the country's airports and seaports, as well as making preparations at hospitals across the archipelago, the Indonesian government repatriated several hundred citizens.
On February 2, a total of 238 Indonesian nationals were airlifted from Wuhan, China, to then be quarantined in Natuna District's Riau Islands Province. All these people were found to be healthy and sent back to their families.
The Indonesian government also repatriated 188 Indonesians employed as crew members of the cruise ship World Dream Liner, and 69 Indonesians employed as cabin crew on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The World Dream cruise ship's crew members and 69 cabin crew of the Diamond Princess had been sent to Sebaru Kecil Island, Jakarta's Thousand Islands, for a 14-day quarantine.
On March 2, 2020, President Jokowi declared that two Indonesians had tested positive for COVID-19. They were treated in an isolated room at the Jakarta-based Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital.
The deadly virus outbreak, which spread to 109 countries and territories around the world, has claimed at least 3,882 lives – most of whom are in China – and infected over 111,400 people worldwide. Related news: At least 177 COVID-19 hoaxes in Indonesia
Related news: Indonesia confirms 19 cases of COVID-19 infection
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Translator: Katriana, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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