"There has been an additional 4,068 Indonesians (returning to the country) in the last week, or an increase of 3.5 percent," said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, at a virtual press conference from the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday.
The majority of Indonesians returning home have arrived from Malaysia (87,777).
According to the Foreign Ministry, 24,648 Indonesian ship crew members have returned from 33 different countries via five entrance points between Jakarta and Bali.
Furthermore, 9,212 Indonesians have independently repatriated from 55 countries, including 17 who returned from France on Wednesday (July 1, 2020).
The minister stressed that as part of the repatriation process, thousands of Indonesian returnees have undergone several health protocols, in accordance with the World Health Organization's standards, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and quarantine.
Aside from ensuring the safe return of citizens, Indonesian representatives in other countries are continuing to strive to provide assistance to Indonesians vulnerable to the impact of travel and movement restriction policies put in place due to COVID-19.
Up until July 1, 2020, a total of 522,086 aid packages have been distributed to Indonesians across the globe, with Indonesians residing in Malaysia receiving the biggest chunk of the assistance (451,098 packages).
Meanwhile, the number of Indonesians residing overseas contracting COVID-19 stands at 1,118. Based on data gathered on July 2, 2020, 747 overseas patients have recovered from the virus, 294 are undergoing treatment, while 77 have succumbed to the infection.
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Translator: Yashinta Difa Pramudyani/Aria
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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