Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - A charismatic Muslim preacher in Aceh Province has been discharged from the Zainoel Abidin Public Hospital in Banda Aceh after being treated at the hospital's respiratory intensive care unit for 10 days owing to the novel coronavirus disease.

The 71-year-old influential Muslim preacher, only identifited by his initials HB, was noted as the 151st COVID-19 patient, Coordinator of the Emerging Infectious Disease Treatment at the Zainoel Abidin Public Hospital Novina Rahmawati said here Sunday.

"HB was allowed to get home on Friday. Accompanied by his family, he returned to Bireuen District," she said, adding that HB's health condition was getting better on the day he was discharged. He had no longer suffered shortness of breath and limped.

Meanwhile, HB is so thankful for his recovery saying that the blessing that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has bestowed to him is a fruit of sincere prayers from all people that love him.

After reuniting with his family members again, HB said he conducted a self-initiated quarantine for 14 days.

He warned the people at large that the COVID-19 pandemic was real. He suffered such symptoms as exhaustion, dizziness, and loss of appetite, said HB who also suffered diabetes.

"Therefore, please do not ignore this pandemic. Please take the health protocols seriously for the sake of all people's safety," he said.

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Coronavirus infections initially surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.

Since then, COVID-19 has spread to over 215 countries and territories, including 34 provinces of Indonesia, with a huge rise in death toll.

As of August 1, 2020, Indonesia recorded 1,560 fresh cases, while 2,012 people recovered from the coronavirus disease, according to the COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

The country's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 109,936, including a total of 67,919 recoveries since President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) made an announcement of Indonesia's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.

The number of people succumbing to COVID-19 surged by 62, thereby bringing the death toll to 5,193.

A total of 11,190 specimens from 9,355 people were examined at 320 laboratories across Indonesia on Saturday noon, thereby bringing the total number of specimens examined to 1,517,381 from 875,894 people.

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Translator: Khalis S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2020