TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In his visit to the seventh Indonesian Muslim Community Congress on Wednesday, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said preventive measures done by the government added to constant collective prayers so far have helped prevent the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19 in Indonesia.

"It is important for me to participate in Indonesia’s muslim congress as I am present here to ask for your prayers," said Terawan on Thursday, February 27.

The Health Minister asserts that prayer is one of many factors that helped the virus from spreading in Indonesia, which is one of many countries with zero reported cases coronavirus.

“We can only pray, whilst working [on preventing the spread] through detections and examinations. We will certainly respond once a case arises but as long as it’s detected and prevent, we will do it based on the WHO standard,” said Terawan.

During the same congress, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin also said that prayers from Ulema played a major role in preventing the coronavirus from spreading into Indonesia.

"There are many kyai (Islamic teachers) and Ulema who constantly recite the ‘qunut’ prayers to dismiss dangers and diseases. This is why the coronavirus is not in Indonesia," said the VP.

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