Two Afghan Asylum Seekers Treated in Jakarta's Emergency Hospital for Covid-19

SOUTH TANGERANG, KOMPAS.com – Two asylum seekers from Afghanistan who have contracted the coronavirus have already been referred to the Wisma Atlet Covid-19 hospital in Central Jakarta, an official confirmed on Monday, October 26.

“They have been transferred to the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran emergency hospital for Covid-19 patients,” said Suhara Manullang, coordinator of the South Tangerang Covid-19 Task Force.

Suhara explained that the two were transferred from a quarantine house in South Tangerang to the emergency hospital in Jakarta so that they could be monitored directly by the central government. It’s not because they have comorbidities that need further medical treatment, he said.

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ANTARA/Sugiharto Purnomo A member of the Indonesian Red Cross prepares to disinfect the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran emergency hospital for Covid-19 patients in Jakarta.

“After some careful considerations, they were then referred to the Wisma Atlet Covid-19 hospital. The decision was made because they are foreigners and further steps need to be taken after recovery,” he said.

He went on to say that the two have tested positive for the Covid-19 after undergoing swab tests at a private hospital. They live in Pisangan, South Tangerang on the outskirts of Jakarta. They then reported the results to the health center nearby.

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“We were not informed about what happened to them before the swab tests. But, [we were told] they reported the test results from a private hospital to the health center,” Suhara said.

Upon receiving the results, the Pisangan Health Center immediately contacted the task force team for further actions.

They must be transferred to the place for the Covid-19 patients because they should not live in the refugee shelter for self-isolation to prevent the virus from spreading.

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“It is impossible to live in a quarantine house. If one person has contracted Covid-19, he must be separated from the healthy ones.”

Suhara said the identities of the two foreigners who have tested positive for the coronavirus but without showing any symptoms, have been recorded.

(Writer: Tria Sutrisna | Editor: Irfan Maullana)

Source: https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/10/26/18135011/dua-pencari-suaka-asal-afganistan-yang-positif-covid-19-di-tangsel?page=1.