The airport's aviation security officers detected that the passenger's temperature body had crossed 38 degrees Celsius prior to getting onboard an aircraft departing for Jakarta on March 23Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - A male passenger at the Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport, Pekanbaru, Riau, was sent to a local hospital after developing symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), Head of the Pekanbaru city's health office, Syarifuddin, stated.
"The airport's aviation security officers detected that the passenger's temperature body had crossed 38 degrees Celsius prior to getting onboard an aircraft departing for Jakarta on March 23," he revealed here on Tuesday.
The passenger, who had visited Kuantan Singingi District before heading to the airport for flying for Jakarta, was also observed and found to exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, Syarifuddin stated.
The medical workers wore personal protective equipment (PPE) while handling the passenger. The man canceled his flight for Jakarta and cooperated with those moving him to a local hospital, he remarked.
The man, currently under surveillance and treated at the hospital's isolated room, was also administered a throat swab test and the sample will be sent to the Health Ministry's laboratory on Wednesday, he revealed.
COVID-19, which initially struck in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019, has killed at least 16,558 people and infected no less than 381,653 people in 195 countries and territories worldwide, according to media reports.
In Indonesia, the virus has infected at least 579 people and claimed 49 lives, while 30 others have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
Taking into account the rising death toll and the spread of this virus, the WHO has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.
In Kota Metro, Lampung Province, a 2.4-year-old infant was also admitted to a local public hospital after ailing from flu and shortness of breath along with recorded body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.
"The patient is under surveillance and currently being treated at the Jenderal Ahmad Yani Public Hospital's isolated room," Head of the Kota Metro Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Task Force Nasir AT MM stated.
The ailing infant suffers from influenza and breathing difficulty, with body temperature of up to 38 degrees Celsius after traveling to a city in West Java Province for a function, he remarked.
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Translator: FB Anggoro, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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