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

COVID-19: Yogyakarta announces UGM professor as second confirmed case

The family of the professor has given its permission to release the information publicly as a way of alerting the public.

Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post)
Yogyakarta
Thu, March 19, 2020

Share This Article

Change Size

COVID-19: Yogyakarta announces UGM professor as second confirmed case Gajah Mada university Yogyakarta (JP/Bambang Muryanto)

A

pharmacology professor at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) medical school has become the second confirmed case of COVID-19 in Yogyakarta, local authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

The professor, identified only as ID, is currently being treated at Dr Sarjito Central General Hospital in the special province.

"We urge people who have been in contact with [ID] in the last three weeks to get tested for the coronavirus at the nearest healthcare facility," UGM vice rector for cooperation and alumni Paripurna Poerwoko Sugarda said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"We have been granted permission from ID's family to inform [the public] that he has tested positive for COVID-19," he added, and that the university was communicating closely with the professor's family as it continued to provide support for him and his family.

Paripurna said that the professor's family had expressed their hope that the announcement would prompt people who had been in contact with him to be more vigilant about their health and be alert to any symptoms they might develop.

"I believe this announcement is the family's good intention to protect his colleagues and friends," he added.

Yogyakarta COVID-19 spokeswoman Berty Murtiningsih said that ID's close contacts were currently being traced. She confirmed that the UGM professor was the second confirmed case in the province, and that the first confirmed case was a 3-year-old who was also being treated at Dr Sardjito hospital.

"The first patient's condition is improving. After treatment, he has tested negative for the coronavirus, but he still needs another test before he can be declared healthy," Berty said.

Yogyakarta Governor Hamengku Buwono X has urged local residents to practice prevention measures, including frequently washing their hands with soap and water, to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the province.

"After two people have tested positive for COVID-19, we hope the number will not rise [further]," said the governor, who is also the Sultan of Yogyakarta.

The Yogyakarta pandemic prevention and treatment command center has tested samples from 31 residents to March 18. Fourteen tests came back negative and two tested positive, while the center was still waiting for the results of the remaining 15 samples.

Indonesia has reported 227 confirmed cases to date. (nal)

{

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.