Mr Governor and Deputy Governor tested negative for COVID-19 in line with results of their repeated swab testsPadang, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - The West Sumatra provincial administration dismissed rumors of Governor Irwan Prayitno and his deputy, Nasrul Abit, being diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by citing negative results of swab tests on these two figures.
"Mr Governor and Deputy Governor tested negative for COVID-19 in line with results of their repeated swab tests," spokesman of the West Sumatra Provincial Government's COVID-19 Task Force Jasman stated here on Tuesday.
Jasman conceded to the fact that Governor Prayitno and Deputy Governor Abit had undergone routine swab tests since they frequently visited and entered high-risk areas, such as hospitals' isolation wards, COVID-19 referral hospitals, and markets.
However, results of their repeat swab tests came back "negative", he revealed, adding that the governor and deputy governor routinely underwent swab tests to check their health condition.
Rumors were rife on the West Sumatra governor and his deputy's health condition after a staff member of the provincial government's public order agency tasked with securing the deputy governor contracted COVID-19.
As of Tuesday, 644 residents of West Sumatra Province got infected with the coronavirus disease.
Apart from ongoing threats of the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial administration has applied a new normal order in most of its administrative areas since June 8 to facilitate resumption of daily work and routine activities as its large-scale social restrictions were lifted on Sunday (June 7).
Nonetheless, all community members must consistently practice the government's healthcare and COVID-19 protocols while working, studying at schools, and conducting religious activities, West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno had remarked recently.
To this end, he highlighted the need to constantly practice preventive measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, such as by wearing face masks, maintaining recommended physical distancing measure, washing hands with soap, and reducing physical meetings.
Until this time, experts are yet uncertain as to when the COVID-19 pandemic can be brought under control amid the unavailability of this virus vaccine.
"It is impossible for us to enter a new normal life after this novel coronavirus pandemic totally ends," he argued.
The coronavirus initially cropped up in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019. COVID-19 has ever since spread to over 215 nations and territories, including 34 provinces of Indonesia, with a huge spike in death toll.
The Indonesian government officially confirmed the country's first cases on March 2 this year.
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Translator: Miko E, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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