TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Officials call for calm as suspected coronavirus cases emerge

Eleven patients in Indonesia — mostly tourists from Wuhan, China — have tested negative for the coronavirus after being suspected of being infected. At least three other patients — two in Bandung, West Java, and one in Sorong, West Papua — were still under quarantine as of the time of writing.

Karina M Tehusijarana and Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Jakarta
Mon, January 27, 2020

Share This Article

Change Size

Officials call for calm as suspected coronavirus cases emerge Health Ministry officials use a thermal scanner to detect the body temperature of newly arrived passengers at Abdulrachman Saleh Airport in Malang, East Java, on Monday. Measures to detect the coronavirus are being carried out even at non-international airports. (JP / Nedi Putra AW) (JP/ Nedi Putra AW)

G

overnment officials from several ministries have called for calm while detailing the measures they have taken to defend against the fast-spreading Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, as suspected cases begin to be recorded across the country.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said the public should be alert but not overly panicked or anxious.

"We are conducting surveillance in all our airports, especially for flights to and from China," he said during a visit to state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday, according to a press release from the State Palace. "The most important thing is to be alert to the symptoms [of the virus]."

Meanwhile, in a joint press conference at the Transportation Ministry, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto advised the public to keep their bodies and minds healthy to maintain the strength of their immune systems to avoid contracting the virus. 

"The way to defend against [the virus] is with immunity [...] which can be influenced by the food we eat and our state of mind," Terawan said on Monday, "We can prevent [infection] as long as our immune system is strong, we live a healthy life, eat on time and have breakfast. What other aspects are there besides food? Our minds."

The minister also urged the public not to panic, adding that "only [around] 2,000 of [the China’s] 1.4 billion people" had fallen ill from the virus.

“Don’t panic, don't be anxious. Just eat well and live healthily. If you have a cough use a face mask. If we just sit all day without moving, our immunity will drop. Take a 15 to 30 minute walk,” he said, "I’m sure that by exercising, eating on time, drinking enough water and washing our hands before eating, we can defend [against the virus] properly."

to Read Full Story

  • Unlimited access to our web and app content
  • e-Post daily digital newspaper
  • No advertisements, no interruptions
  • Privileged access to our events and programs
  • Subscription to our newsletters
or

Purchase access to this article for

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay

Redirecting you to payment page

Pay per article

Officials call for calm as suspected coronavirus cases emerge

Rp 29,000 / article

1
Create your free account
By proceeding, you consent to the revised Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account?

2
  • Palmerat Barat No. 142-143
  • Central Jakarta
  • DKI Jakarta
  • Indonesia
  • 10270
  • +6283816779933
2
Total Rp 29,000
{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.