“Alhamdulillah [praise be to God], the minister was declared to have recovered on the afternoon of Sept. 30 and returned home. He said he was happy and grateful for his recovery,” Kevin Haikal said in a press statement on Thursday.

Despite his recovery, Fachrul still has to rest at home for the next few days. He has delegated his tasks to Deputy Minister Zainut Tauhid and other officials while he is recuperating in isolation.

Kevin added that Fachrul advised the public to comply with health protocols, saying that being a COVID-19 patient had taught him not to underestimate his health.

“Please adhere to health protocols and wish the minister a speedy recovery,” he said.

Fachrul is the third minister to test positive for COVID-19 and recover, after Transportation Minister Budi Karya and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo.

In March, Budi was treated at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) in Jakarta for COVID-19. In the following month, he recovered from the virus. He expressed his gratitude to the doctors and medical team at RSPAD in Jakarta for their hard work and dedication in helping him recover from COVID-19.

On a sad note, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s maritime spatial management director general, Aryo Hanggono, died of COVID-19 on Monday. Aryo was the second official to have died of COVID-19 complications after accompanying Edhy on a working visit to East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and East Kalimantan.

The ministry’s public relations and foreign cooperation bureau head, Agung Tri Prasetyo, has confirmed the death, adding that Aryo had undergone intensive care after testing positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 9.

“Earlier today at 4:50 a.m., he died at the Army Hospital [in Jakarta],” Agung said as quoted by kompas.com.

Before Aryo, Berau Regent H. Muharram died after being treated for COVID-19 at Pertamina Hospital in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Prior to testing positive, Muharram had accompanied Edhy on a visit to Maratua, Berau, on Sept. 1 to release 300 turtle hatchlings into the wild.

Muharram was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 9. On the same day, a swab test showed him to be positive for COVID-19. He announced the diagnosis on Instagram and apologized for what he said was his negligence in interacting with people.

Edhy, along with several other local officials, tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after the working visit.

Daniel Johan, deputy chairman of House of Representatives Commission IV overseeing agriculture, forestry, maritime affairs, fisheries and food, has confirmed Edhy’s COVID-19 diagnosis and has urged anyone who had contact with the minister to get tested. (ggq/roi/syk)

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