"As of Friday evening, Bali had four COVID-19 patients. The first and second patients are foreigners, while the third and fourth are Indonesian citizens. The first and second patients have died," he noted in Jimbaran, Badung District, on Saturday.
The first COVID-19 patient was 53 years of age, while the second one was aged 72. The first patient died at the Sanglah Public Hospital on March 11 and was cremated, while the second patient died several days later, Indra revealed.
In connection with the cremation process, the local authority had contacted the representative office of the second COVID-19 patient's country of origin, he noted, adding that the authorities were tracing those, who had come in direct contact with the second patient.
The COVID-19 surveillance team members had identified an individual, who shared a close relationship with the patient. They are still looking for additional information on the people, who had come in direct contact with the patient, he remarked.
Bali Island is Indonesia's most popular tourist destination where most of its people rely on the tourism industry.
COVID-19, which initially struck in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019, has claimed the lives of at least 9,840 people and infected no less than 234,073 individuals in 176 countries and territories worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Indonesia, as of Friday, the virus had infected at least 369 people and claimed 32 lives, while 17 others had recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The percentage of Indonesia's death toll is the highest of those in other countries in Southeast Asia.
Taking into account the rising death toll and the spread of this virus, the WHO has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.
The Indonesian government has put in place precautionary measures since the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak.
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 has repatriated several hundred citizens.
On February 2, a total of 238 Indonesian nationals were airlifted from Wuhan, China, to be quarantined in Natuna District's Riau Islands Province. All these Indonesians were found to be healthy and were reunited with their families.
On March 2, 2020, President Jokowi announced that two Indonesians had tested positive for COVID-19. The number of infected confirmed by the government had tended to rise steadily over the past days. (INE)
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Translator: Naufa FY, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
