TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has finally instructed the evacuation of all Indonesian citizens trapped in Hubei Province, China, following the spread of the coronavirus on Thursday afternoon, January 30.

The President made the order before he was leaving for Yogyakarta at the VIP lounge of the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase, East Jakarta, after meeting with a number of ministers.

The ministers attended the discussion were Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, State Secretariat Minister Pratikno, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama, and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head Doni Monardo.

"Pak President has ordered an immediate evacuation of Indonesians in Hubei Province," said Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi in a written statement released by the Presidential Secretariat today.

Before meeting at Halim, the ministers held a discussion at the State Secretariat Ministry's main building from 1 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. After the session, they departed to Halim to report the meeting minutes to President Jokowi.

The Indonesian Embassy in Beijing earlier reported there are a total of 243 Indonesians isolated in 7 Chinese cities including Wuhan, the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus. They claimed the Indonesians are in healthy condition, and their daily needs are fulfilled.

EGI ADYATAMA