Continues to Monitor, Indonesian Government Plans for COVID-19 positive Indonesian Nationals repatriation

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 08:41 am

Four Indonesian citizens that have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) aboard the Diamond Princess cruise liner are being monitored by the Indonesian government, thru the Indonesian Embassy in Japan. This was confirmed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Jakarta on Thursday. They all have been taken to a hospital in Japan. Jokowi also remarked that some 70 other Indonesian citizens are still aboard the cruise liner. According to the Foreign Ministry, constant communication has been mantained with the operator of the cruise liner and the Japanese authorities. “We want to ensure that they receive treatment in accordance with WHO’s health protocol,” he remarked. Regarding repatriation of them to home country, Jokowi stated that the Indonesian government continues to hold discussions with the Japanese authorities for that plan. According to Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masafumi Ishii, the Japanese government is ready to help repatriate 78 Indonesian citizens employed as the cruise liner’s crew members quarantined in the Yokohama waters. Although Masafumi had not received information on the Indonesian government’s policy regarding the evacuation of Indonesian citizens aboard the cruise liner, but his side would be ready and pleased to cooperate. Aboard the Diamond Princess crusie liner, there are 78 Indonesian citizens are employed as crew members of the cruise liner from total of 3,714 people, including 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew members from 56 countries. Most of them were quarantined aboard the cruise liner until Wednesday (Feb 19), including 74 Indonesian citizens. Currently, the total number of cases testing positive for COVID-19 on the cruise ship reaches over 447, after four additional cases of Indonesian nationals.