Coronavirus Crisis; Jokowi Orders Evacuation of Indonesians
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31 January 2020 07:26 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Foreign Affairs Minister announced that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered the immediate evacuation of Indonesians currently residing in Hubei Province, China, which is reportedly the ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak, now identified by the WHO as the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
“Just now, Bapak President [Jokowi] ordered the immediate evacuation of Indonesians in Hubei Province,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi in the official presidential secretariat press release on Thursday, January 30.
This decision was finalized by Jokowi following a meeting with Retno Marsudi, State Secretary Pratikno, and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly.
The president reportedly held another meeting on Thursday afternoon with Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama, and BNPB Chief Doni Monardo at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airforce Base.
The Indonesian Embassy in Beijing (KBRI) recently reported that there are 243 Indonesians in seven locations in China, which include the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province where the coronavirus first emerged.
The embassy continues to maintain communication with them and reports that they are generally in good condition.
EGI ADYATAMA
