TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The national spokesman for the COVID-19 outbreak mitigation Achmad Yurianto said one Indonesian citizen who was a crew of Diamond Princess cruise ship have been repatriated on March 5, 2020, from Japan after being declared cured of the virus.

"We will receive one ex-crew of Diamond Princess, one of the nine Indonesians tested positive for the virus in Japan," said Yurianto during a press conference at the Presidential Staff Office, on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, Central Jakarta on Thursday, March 5.

Since having contracted the virus, those nine were placed under treatment by the Japanese authorities. One of them had now been declared healed so that the Indonesian government would repatriate the person under the cost covered by the company where they worked.

Two others would reportedly be sent home, yet they must undergo the second screenings today in Japan. "If the test comes out negative, they will be discharged from the hospital and be repatriated to Indonesia," Yurianto explained.

Despite the evacuation, Yurianto said they could not instantly return to their families but would again undergo observations in Indonesia.

However, Yurianto stopped short of mentioning the location of the observation for the COVID-19, ensuring that the government had prepared the location.

EGI ADYATAMA