Riau People Suggested Not to Worry about Indonesians from Wuhan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Riau Islands Health Service Office stated that none of the Indonesians evacuated from Wuhan, China, had suffered from the Coronavirus.

Head of the Riau Islands Health Service Office, Tjetjep Yudiana, said that the protection efforts from the Chinese and Indonesian Governments in preventing the spread of the coronavirus was very optimal. Health checks on people suspected of having the Coronavirus are pretty strict throughout airport entrances.

Therefore, according to Tjetjep, all people, including Indonesian citizens, who are indicated to have the disease will be treated medically in Natuna, Riau Islands. The medical handling during the incubation period is a maximum of 14 days.

If no Coronavirus is found in the person's body, then the person can be repatriated. On the contrary, if the virus is found, the person will be treated in a special room.

"So there are a number of layers of examinations carried out on Indonesian citizens who were evacuated from Wuhan before arriving in Natuna and other areas. If any of them were indicated to have Coronavirus, they would be taken to a hospital that has adequate medical equipment," said Tjetjep.

Tjetjep stressed that the process of evacuating Indonesian citizens from Wuhan was an obligation of the Indonesian Government. The policy is a form of government concern that should also have the support from all parties.

He ensured that the evacuation process had been thoroughly reviewed by the government so that Riau people do not have to worry about it. The government, he said, could not possibly adopt policies that are detrimental to society.

Therefore, the evacuation from Wuhan was directly led by the TNI Commander. The Indonesian citizens who were evacuated from Wuhan to Natuna will also live in the barracks that belongs to the TNI (Indonesian National Army).

In the TNI barracks in Natuna, said Tjetjep, there are 300 beds, which would be used by the Indonesian citizens from Wuhan. "What is being done by the government as a medical effort is to prevent the coronavirus [from entering the country], so that all Indonesian citizens from Wuhan will be incubated for a maximum of 14 days. After that, they will be sent home," he said.

On Sunday this morning, as many as 245 Indonesian citizens were evacuated from Wuhan, China due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the country. They arrived at Batam's Hang Nadim Airport at around 8:30 WIB (Western Indonesia Time). Next, they will be brought to Natuna to undergo observation.

ANTARA