JAKARTA: Indonesia has done a good job in handling its evacuees from China's Hubei province, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday (Feb 15).
Hubei's capital Wuhan is the epicentre of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, which has claimed more than 1,500 lives in China.
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WHO's Indonesia representative, Dr Navaratnasamy Paranietharan, was on hand to welcome 285 evacuees back to Jakarta after they spent 14 days in quarantine on Indonesias Natuna island.
The evacuees, which comprised 238 Indonesian citizens who lived in Hubei and Indonesian officials and Batik Air Crew who were involved in the evacuation process, were flown to Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma airport on Saturday afternoon.
“It was very well done, everyone was healthy. And mentally as well, they were kept healthy because if you usually (confine) people it is important that they are mentally healthy as well," said Dr Navaratnasamy.
"They were exercising and there were other sessions to keep them together, and I think the job was done very well; kudos to the government of Indonesia. Well done."
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Concerns have been raised in recent days over whether Indonesia was carrying out thorough checks amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, as the country had yet to record a single infected case of COVID-19.
Indonesia has direct air links to several Chinese cities, including Wuhan.
READ: Garuda grounds aircraft after passenger on Bali-Shanghai flight tested positive for COVID-19
READ: France announces first COVID-19 death outside Asia
The majority of Indonesian evacuees are students. (Photo: Indonesia's National Disaster Agency)
Responding to CNAs query on how Indonesia had done so far, Dr Navaratnasamy said: “As of this morning, the health research and development agency had tested 92 suspect cases. Ninety of them tested negative and thats the same information I have."
The Indonesian representative of WHO also said that the evacuees did not have COVID-19 because they had not come into close contact with someone who had the disease.
"If you ask me why the evacuees did not get the coronavirus, it's because they did not come into close contact with somebody who already had the coronavirus. As simple as that," he said.
A total of 285 Indonesians have arrived in Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma airport on Saturday (Feb 15) following a 14 days quarantine period on Natuna Island. (Photo: Indonesia's National Disaster Agency)
14 DAYS QUARANTINE PERIOD ENOUGH
When asked whether the 14 days incubation period of the evacuees was enough as there were cases where symptoms only emerged after 24 days, Dr Navaratnasamy said 14 days was the current guideline given by the WHO.
“We have not looked at the evidence yet. We are looking at a normal incubation period. So the average incubation period is only five to six days. Its not up to 14 days," said Dr Navaratnasamy.
“So when you have (285) people, if no one has shown symptoms, up to the fifteenth day, then we have no reason to worry about that.”
READ: Bali remains safe, says provincial health agency after Chinese tourist tested positive for COVID-19
READ: Chinese vessels leaving Natuna after days of stand-off with Indonesia
Indonesia's health minister Terawan Agus Putranto said the Indonesian evacuees are all healthy. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
Indonesias health minister Terawan Agus Putranto also welcomed the evacuees on Saturday afternoon and said they were all healthy.
The minister also dismissed suggestions that the returnees should avoid crowded areas.
“Theres no such thing like that. They can mingle, if they want to watch the Java Jazz festival thats okay,” Mr Putranto said referring to the annual jazz festival that is slated to begin on Feb 28 in Jakarta.
Yuli Chaniago (left), Sinta (centre) and Gerard (right) are happy to arrive in Jakarta and finsih their 14 days quarantine period. (Photo: Kiki Siregar)
HAPPY TO BE HOME
Indonesia's youngest evacuee is 5 years old, and the eldest aged 64, according to Read More – Source
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