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Papua administration denies governor in Jakarta for coronavirus treatment
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Papua Governor Lukas Enembe speaks to journalists after his inauguration at the State Palace in Jakarta on Sept. 5, 2018. (kompas.com/Ihsanuddin)
T
he Papua administration has said that Governor Lukas Enembe flew in the early hours of Tuesday to Jakarta for a scheduled medical checkup, dismissing rumors that he had contracted COVID-19.
Ridwan Rumasukun, the Papua administration's acting secretary, said that Lukas flew to Jakarta using a chartered plane with his doctor and some family members.
"He was supposed to go for a medical checkup last week but he was unable to do that due to his tight schedule," Ridwan said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Lukas visited Gatot Subroto Regional General Hospital (RSPAD) in Central Jakarta for his medical checkup, he added.
Rumors emerged on Tuesday afternoon that Lukas was ill and had flown to Jakarta to seek treatment after reports said that the governor had chartered an airplane to visit the capital.
Ridwan emphasized that Lukas had been tested for COVID-19 in March and the result came back negative.
Lukas left Papua on Monday night because he had to finish several documents related to the COVID-19 response in Papua, he added.
"The governor used a chartered plane because there is no commercial flight to and from Papua since the region implemented physical and social distancing policy to contain COVID-19," he said.
Papua has restricted entry into the province by sea and air to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia’s easternmost region, which, as of Tuesday, had recorded 68 positive cases of COVID-19 with three fatalities.
The country's official tally is currently at least 4,839 confirmed cases with 459 deaths across the archipelago.
Papua's COVID-19 task force head Silvanus Simule concurred with Ridwan, saying that Lukas departed to Jakarta for a routine medical checkup, not seeking treatment for COVID-19.
"The governor has taken a PCR test and the result was negative. He will practice 14 days self-quarantine after returning from Jakarta," Silvanus said. (nal)
