As you all known, the duties of the transportation ministry are often related to the handling of COVID-19 cases, such as evacuation and facilities in which its officials get involved
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Government confirmed on Saturday evening that Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and he is currently treated at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Jakarta.

Sumadi who becomes the 76th COVID-19 patient in Indonesia is the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin administration's minister who has intensively been in the frontline in the government's handling of this virus, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno said.

"As you all known, the duties of the transportation ministry are often related to the handling of COVID-19 cases, such as evacuation and facilities in which its officials get involved," he said.

Minister Budi Karya Sumadi himself often participated and worked hard as part of those involving in the handling of the coronavirus cases in Indonesia, Pratikno said.

While Sumadi is treated at the hospital, President Joko Widodo has assigned Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to become the ad interim transportation minister, he added.

On the meantime, in anticipating the spread of COVID-19 as the Indonesian Government strives to handle the rising number of patients, schools in certain cities in the country had been ordered by the provincial and city governments to shut for 14 days.

The leader of Daarut Tauhid Islamic Boarding School, Abdullah Gymnastiar (Aa Gym), had also shut the school in optimizing an endeavor to prevent the spread of this virus.

Daarut Tauhid has decided to terminate the teaching and learning activities at the boarding school, he said on his social media account that ANTARA observed on Saturday.

Despite the temporary closure of the Islamic boarding school, located at Geger Kalong area of Bandung, the capital of West Java Province, Aa Gym urged the boarding school's santris (students) to keep studying at home during the 14-day closure.

In Bogor, the Sempur Park area, one of the popular destinations for the city's residents and visitors, is officially closed until March 28, according to Yana, a local resident.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Indonesia has jumped to 117 on Sunday as the virus has spread to several regions, including Jakarta, Bandung, Tangerang, Solo, Yogyakarta, Bali, Manado, and Pontianak.

On Saturday, the number of confirmed cases increased from 69 to 96, said Achmad Yurianto, spokesman for coronavirus handling.

The new cases came to light after the government conducted massive contact tracing, he revealed.

So far, five coronavirus patients have died, of which four -- case 25, 35, 36, and case 50 -- were linked to the initial 69 cases.


Related news: Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia climb to 96Related news: President appoints Luhut as Ad Interim Transportation Minister


Translator: M. Zulfikar, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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