Health Minister clarifies government never concealed new coronavirus cases

Senin, 2 Maret 2020 16:37 WIB

Pesident Joko Widodo (left), accompanied by Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto held a press conference on the spread of coronavirus in i Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday (March 2, 2020). ANTARA/Sigid Kurniawan/hp.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government remains committed to preventing the spread of coronavirus and has never concealed new cases of coronavirus infection in the country, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto emphasized.

"It is not true that we conceal (new cases of coronavirus infection)," he remarked at the Presidential Palace compounds in Jakarta on Monday.

Baca juga: Separate observation planned for evacuees of World Dream and Diamond Princess

The fact that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced the first case of coronavirus infection in Indonesia is indicative of the government's seriousness to prevent the spread of coronavirus, he noted.

"It is serious that what we have checked is true. If it is negative, we will say negative, and if it is positive, we will say positive," he stated.

The first case of coronavirus infection in Indonesia was detected based on the efforts to track a citizen, who had travelled to Indonesia and returned to Malaysia, he revealed.

"(The citizen) was checked for being ill for a few days. (The citizen) was checked upon arrival there and pronounced positive for COVID-19," he stated.

"We continue to track anybody, who had come in close contact with the patient. Shortly after we find close contact, we follow up on the find," he revealed.

The Indonesian citizen, who had tested positive for COVID-19, is receiving treatment at the Sulianti Suroso Infection Disease Hospital in North Jakarta, he added.

"The patient is being treated in an isolated room," he stated.

EDITED BY INE