Jayapura (ANTARA) - Nineteen athletes and officials joining Papua's PON National Games being held in Jayapura City and the districts of Jayapura, Merauke, and Timika have tested positive for COVID-19, the Papua Provincial COVID-19 Task Force has reported.

"Be patient, as far as I know, the Jayapura city cluster has six athletes testing positive," Spokesperson for the Papua COVID-19 Prevention and Handling Task Force Silwanus Sumule told ANTARA on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, data collected by ANTARA reveal that as many as 19 athletes and officials—seven athletes in Jayapura District, six athletes in Jayapura City, three athletes in Timika, and three officials in Merauke—have been confirmed to get infected by COVID-19.

Athletes and officials who have tested positive for COVID-19 are undergoing isolation at isolation centers, self-quarantine, and some are being treated in hospitals, Sumule said.

On average, the athletes and officials testing positive for the coronavirus have been categorized as asymptomatic patients and patients with mild symptoms since they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, he explained.

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The three officials who have tested positive for COVID-19 are currently undergoing centralized isolation at Motor Vessel Sirimau, which has been docked at the Merauke Port since September 30, 2021, he informed.

"We always hope that athletes, officials, and the public will continue to comply with strict health protocols considering that COVID-19 is still around us," Sumule remarked.

Meanwhile, Head of the Jayapura City Health Service Nyoman Antari added that five athletes have tested positive for COVID-19. Two of them belong to Jakarta's contingent while three others come from North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, and East Kalimantan respectively.

Athletes testing positive for COVID-19 are currently undergoing centralized isolation at Motor Vessel Tidar and Provita Hospital, he informed.

In addition, several athletes are undergoing self-quarantine and three are undergoing centralized isolation at MV Tidar and being treated at the Provita Hospital, he added.

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Translator: Evarukdijati, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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