Indonesian border agencies take measures to check for virus

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
INDONESIAN border agencies have measures in place to detect coronavirus among travellers, according to Vanimo-based Indonesian Consular Abraham Abelauw.
“We are yet to talk to the West Sepik provincial administration and Vanimo-based national border agencies to monitor (those crossing the) border.
He said Papua Province on the Indonesian side of the border had already taken precaution measures.
“We do have equipment at the Indonesian side of the Skouw border administration complex to check body temperature of (those crossing),” he said.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported yesterday that a Chinese man suspected of contracting the virus was in West Papua.
“In Indonesia there is no evidence that the Coronavirus is already spreading. In fact President (Joko Widodo) has already instructed ministries to (take) precaution measures,” he said.
The BBC reported that a Chinese tourist was hospitalised and isolated from others at the Sele Be Solu Regional General Hospital in Sorong City, West Papua on Sunday.
Hospital director Mavkren Kambuaya confirmed that tests had been conducted on the 38-year-old man after experiencing symptoms of high fever and coughing. He was travelling to the international diving resort at Raja Ampat in Sorong.