Gov’t to Assist Indonesians in China

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

A nurse prepares a bed on Monday (27/1/2020) at Dr. Mohammad Hoesin Central General Hospital in Palembang, South Sumatra. The hospital has readied an isolation room for treating patients with the novel coronavirus, which has not been detected in Indonesia to date.

The government has heightened surveillance at all Indonesian ports of entry and increased public announcements on the dangers of the new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV. It is also providing assistance and protection to its citizens in China.

SURABAYA. KOMPAS — Indonesia has increased its vigilance against the spread of the new coronavirus, but has not imposed a ban on Chinese visitors traveling to the country. In addition to heightening surveillance at all ports of entry and hospitals in the country, it has launched a public information campaign on the new virus.

President Joko Widodo reaffirmed on Monday (27/1/2020) in Surabaya that the government would continue to monitor the latest developments in the spread of the new coronavirus in China and Indonesia. “The most important thing is to be cautious and alert as to the symptoms,” said the President.

In addition to maintaining communication, the government is trying to meet its citizens’ needs for daily goods and supplies.

The government is also providing assistance for Indonesians in China, especially in Wuhan, where the new coronavirus originated. In addition to maintaining communication, the government is trying to meet its citizens’ needs for daily goods and supplies.

Evacuation

The government has yet to confirm a plan to evacuate Indonesian citizens from China, and is currently focusing on ensuring that all Indonesians are in good condition.

The Foreign Ministry’s acting spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, said in Jakarta that mass evacuation was impossible due to the lockdown in place in several cities in China. The decision to evacuate depended entirely on the response from the Chinese government. Once China had confirmed the plan, all Indonesians in the affected regions would be evacuated. “The government will protect its citizens,” he said.

KOMPAS/SUCIPTO

Passengers look at a monitor displaying flight schedules on Monday (27/1/2020) at Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

To date, 243 Indonesians are in quarantine zones in provinces across China that were imposed to curb the spread of the virus. People in good health have been urged not to leave their homes to avoid infection.

The Indonesian government has continued to communicate with its citizens in China. The Indonesian Embassy in Beijing and the Indonesian Consulate-Generals in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong continue to monitor its citizens in the country, and have prepared packages of food aid for distributing to Indonesians trapped in the quarantine zones.

Food is the urgent issue at present. The quarantine has resulted in millions of people unable to leave their homes to buy food. “We are continuing to communicate with Indonesian nationals to monitor conditions in the field,” said Faizasyah.

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said at a coronavirus coordination meeting on Monday that Indonesia would maintain its vigilance over the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) until the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that conditions had returned to normal.

Disease prevention and control director general Anung Sugihantono said the ministry would increase the capacity of healthcare facilities in the country to respond to the new coronavirus epidemic, including providing additional hospital and healthcare staff, diagnostic tools to test for 2019-nCoV infection and more thermal scanners, as well as information on risks.

Some 19 regions with direct access to China have been identified as at-risk areas, where health surveillance will be increased. The areas include Jakarta, Tangerang, Bandar Lampung, Manokwari, Bandung, Denpasar, Surabaya and Manado. The medical supplies needed to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, including personal protective equipment, N-95 masks and health advisory cards, have been distributed.

Referring to a report from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no vaccines exist for the new coronavirus. Infection can be prevented only by avoiding contact with the virus. No specific antiviral drug is available to treat infection from the new coronavirus. Recommended treatments include reducing the symptoms of infection and protecting the vital organs.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

A nurse looks through the glass doors of a specially prepared isolation ward at Waled Regional General Hospital in Cirebon, West Java. A 44-year-old Cirebon resident who had just returned from Taiwan was hospitalized on Monday (27/1/2020) as a suspected 2019-nCoV case.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that the government had not banned flights to and from China. Travel restrictions had been imposed only on flights to and from Wuhan in accordance with local Chinese regulation.

WHO data released on 26 Jan. 2020 recorded 2,014 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 56 related deaths. Several regions in Indonesia have reported suspected cases, including Bandung, Jambi, Manado, Surabaya and Cirebon. Patients are being treated in isolation wards and showing improvement, pending the results of lab tests.

Two patients with suspected coronavirus infection under observation at Dr. Hasan Sadikin Central General Hospital in Bandung, West Java, have been identified as 35-year-old Chinese national H.G. and 24-year-old Indonesian national H.A. The hospital’s president director, Nina Susana Dewi, said that the two patients had recently traveled to China and Singapore.

On alert

Several regions are also on alert for the new coronavirus. Apart from checking the temperatures and for any symptoms among passengers in airports, regional administrations have prepared referral hospitals and isolation wards. Meanwhile, 150 Chinese tourists will be deported from West Sumatra due to local concerns over the virus’ spread.

Provincial, regency and municipal health agencies in Surabaya and Batam have issued circulars to medical facilities, requesting increased surveillance for patients showing coronavirus symptoms. Batam health agency head Didi Kusmarjadi said the agency had launched a public information campaign on the risks of the coronavirus. The campaign does not include local schools.

Disease prevention and control head Aaron Rumainum at the Papua health agency said the agency had issued circulars to all puskesmas (community health centers) in the province. It had also urged people to wash their hands with soap before eating and to wear masks.

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

A health worker studies a monitor connected to a temperature scanner as passengers pass the arrivals concourse on Sunday (26/1/2020) at Haluoleo Airport in South Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi. Airport authorities in the country are on high alert to surveil and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the West Nusa Tenggara health agency has distributed masks and also urged students to maintain good hygiene and health.

Disease eradication and environmental health head Soeharsono at the East Kalimantan health agency said that it was making door-to-door calls. “Posyandu [Integrated healthcare posts] personnel are informing local residents of the risks,” he said. (KOMPAS TEAM)