The figure is lower compared to June this year, when the number of foreign nationals was recorded at 192 thousand, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The ministry further noted that 634 foreign nationals had direct contact with COVID-19 patients, and 477 of them had tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease.
About 329 foreign nationals returned to their countries of origin, the ministry informed, adding that 321 foreign nationals who had tested positive for COVID-19 had fully recovered, while 12 others had succumbed to the disease.
As of September this year, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry has provided hotline services to 301 foreigners, issued 209 flight clearances for evacuating foreign nationals, and assisted in the repatriation of 13,514 foreign nationals to their countries of origin.
The ministry has also issued 4,780 documents for exit permits only and stay permits for diplomats and officials, and various discretionary services related to humanitarian cases.
In order to synchronize data on immigrant movement, the Foreign Ministry's Directorate General for Protocol and Consular Affairs has signed a cooperation agreement with the Directorate General for Immigration at the Ministry for Legal and Human Rights Affairs.
The most recent agreement on notification and consular access related to the handling of foreign nationals in Indonesia ratifies three other accords that the two ministries signed earlier, the Foreign Ministry revealed.
“The Foreign Ministry does appreciate the cooperation on handling foreign nationals during the COVID-19 pandemic situation, which has run so well,” director general for protocol and consular affairs at the Foreign Ministry, Andy Rachmianto, said.
Strengthening the ministry's cooperation with other ministries and government agencies has become vital in the midst of rising problems and the complexity of criminal and civil cases involving foreign nationals, he added.
Coronavirus infections initially emerged 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 massive spurt in death toll.
Indonesia is leaving no stone unturned to develop a vaccine to fight the virus.
Currently, in addition to the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, Indonesian scientists are working on a vaccine named after the country's national flag, Merah Putih (Red and White). (INE)
Translator: Yuni AS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
