TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said there were approximately 100 islands as options to become the isolation locations of infectious dieseases. He added, however, the options had not been narrowed down yet.

“There are 100 islands, so many. Look them up yourselves, I cannot memorize them all,” he told journalists after attending a limited coordination meeting on the selection of special isolation islands for communicable diseases at the Coordinating Security Ministry on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Friday, February 7, 2020.

Terawan said the meeting had not touched on any detail pertaining to the location selection. Some related governmental agencies joining the meeting, such as the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the Armed Forces (TNI), had only canvassed the geological, political, economical and security aspects, he explained.

“So today it’s about brainstorming,” Terawan said, adding that each related ministry and agency had only rendered input to the Coordinating Security Minister Mahfud MD.

Separately, Mahfud MD said this plan was a long-term anticipation to prevent against contagious diseases, including the coronavirus, which was among the reasons the plan was devised.

Presently, a total of 237 Indonesians evacuated from coronavirus-hit Wuhan, China, are still under observation in Natuna, Riau Islands--a decision that initially sparked outcries from locals despite the government’s declaring the evacuees were in good health.

Mahfud MD said Natuna was chosen as it was equipped with a military base, which was among the considerations to decide on the special isolation locations.
“Yes, one criterion is that it should be close to a military base so it will be easier for the evacuation process, and also near an airport,” he said.

Reporter: Egy Adyatama

Translator: Galuh Kurnia Ramadhani