Indonesians in Wuhan are okay. (Image via Dunia - Tempo.co)

Health Ministry: Indonesian nationals in Seoul find it hard to get masks

Indonesia’s Ministry of Health worries about the condition of over 5,000 Indonesian nationals in Seoul, the capital of South Korea (S. Korea), amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Secretary of the Health Ministry’s Disease Control, Achmad Yurianto, expressed the concern that it is hard for the Indonesian nationals there to get masks to anticipate the risk of COVID-19.

Speaking on Sunday, Achmad said that while they still have masks, the storage is running out, and it is hard for them to obtain more. Therefore, the Health Ministry is discussing with Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry to help provide masks for the Indonesian nationals in the land.

Even though, Achmad said that for now the Health Ministry, coordinating with the Foreign Ministry and Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities Overseas to monitor the situation, has not gotten any reports about the Indonesian nationals tested positive for the COVID-19.

Achmad asserted that more than 5,000 Indonesian nationals in Seoul are still under the surveillance of local healthcare authorities. Fortunately, no need to overthink since Indonesian nationals are complying with the instructions and suggestions from the local S. Korean government. Moreover, they maintain communications with each other, families, and government through WhatsApp.

S. Korean government confirmed an increase of its citizens infected by COVID-19 by 256 cases, totaling to 2,022 cases. The figure made them a country outside China with the worst COVID-19 infection. There were new COVID-19 cases found in Yeouido, Seoul.

The fact that it is hit the hardest by the COVID-19, the Indonesian Embassy for S. Korea in Seoul revealed that offices and all activities were temporarily halted since Friday last week until further notice.

Source: https://bit.ly/2PFyg4i