TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will announce his decision on the fate of 74 Indonesian crew members on board the Diamond Princess cruise liner, which is currently anchored in Yokohama, Japan.

"The president will announce his decision within 1-2 days," said Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, when met at the Presidential Palace, Central Jakarta, Thursday, February 20, 2020.

The crew members are still undergoing observation due to the high number of Coronavirus sufferers on the ship.

Today, Muhadjir met the president to inform the latest situation of Indonesian citizens there. He came with Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, as well as the military (TNI) Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto. Four of 78 Indonesian crew on the cruise liner have tested positive for Coronavirus.

Joko Widodo has confirmed that the four Indonesian citizens are treated in Japan hospitals, and their condition is monitored by the Indonesian Embassy. They cannot go back home, as long as they are still sick.

But the fate of the other 74 on the Diamond Princess is still unclear. Based on the information gathered earlier, their observation period should have finished on February 19, meaning they could have gotten permission to leave Japan now. Therefore, Muhadjir said Jokowi's decision would be very crucial.

Egi Adyatama | Galuh Kurnia Ramadhani (Intern Translator)