Indonesia Repatriates Remains of Suspected Covid-19 Patient

KOMPAS.com- Indonesian authorities from the Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) branch in Aceh have repatriated the remains of a Filipino sailor who died on board a foreign vessel in waters off the province.

“The deceased was identified as 48-year-old Jason P. Padaong. He was part of the crew of MV Morandi, a bulk carrier registered in Malta,” said Budiono, the head of the Basarnas branch in Aceh on October 13.

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Budiono added that a Basarnas team went to MV Morandi in one of the agency’s vessels, braving high winds and choppy seas.

“We boarded [MV Morandi] in full PPE gear, in line with health protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic. [Padaong] showed [coronavirus] symptoms such as high fevers, dry coughs, and abdominal pains before he finally died of a heart attack and high blood pressure,” he said.

“Because he already died when we got on board, we dispensed with swab tests and evacuated his remains under careful health protocols.”

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“We evacuated Padaong from the vessel while it was at sea on the Bay of Bengal and brought it to Banda Aceh’s Ulee Lheu port. His remains were then stored at the UZA hospital before it will be repatriated by plane to the [Philippines].”

Budiono pointed out that MV Morandi carried on to its next destination following the evacuation of Padaong’s remains.

(Editor: Pythag Kurniati)

Source: 

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/10/14/13371631/punya-riwayat-demam-dan-batuk-jenazah-abk-berbendera-malta-dievakuasi?page=all#page2.