TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - External Affairs Manager of PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry, Indrayanto, confirmed that 49 Chinese workers of the nickel refining company had undergone self-quarantine.

Indra said that upon arriving at Haluoleo Airport, South Konawe on Sunday, March 15, the migrant workers were immediately taken to one of the company's areas for isolation. They were placed in their respective rooms, he added.

The workers who hailed from Henan Province of China were free of the coronavirus as they had been undergoing quarantine in Bangkok, Thailand for 14 days, precisely from February 29 to March 15, Indra asserted.

"No worker has been infected with the virus pandemic which is evident from the corona-free letter issued by the Airport Health Office (KKP) based on the health certificate issued in Bangkok," Indra told Tempo on Tuesday, March 17.

Indra ensured that the workers would not start working for two the next weeks. "3 to 5 medical officers from Bhayangkara Hospital and Bahteramas Hospital are responsible for the checking," he explained.

The arrival of Chinese workers in Kendari grabbed public spotlight amid the coronavirus pandemic that first emerged in China. Southeast Sulawesi Police said they had just arrived from Jakarta and had never returned to China, while in fact, they came from China and had a transit in Thailand for a quarantine.

ROSNIAWANI FIKRY TAHIR (CONTRIBUTOR)