Indonesia tightens health monitoring at entry points, cancels flights to and from Wuhan

Though there are no plans to further restrict travelers from China yet, Indonesia has ramped up health monitoring across the country. So far, precautionary steps have included activation of thermal scanners across 135 port of entries and designation of 100 hospitals to specifically treat possible coronavirus patients. 

According to Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto, each entry point reports to the Health Ministry and other related ministries on a regular basis every day. 

The virus has yet to be detected in Indonesia, though it has notably spread to at least 13 other countries outside of China. The Indonesian government has so far urged the public to remain vigilant, while President Joko Widodo ordered health officials to monitor developments of the Wuhan virus closely. 

Indonesian airlines Sriwijaya Air and Lion Air ⁠— which service flights between Jakarta-Wuhan and Denpasar-Wuhan, respectively ⁠— have canceled their flights as a preventive measure, corresponding to a NOTAM (a notice to airmen) recently issued by Beijing’s International Notam Office, which stated that the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will be closed except for emergency flights until Sunday, Feb. 2. 

The Directorate General of Air Transport also issued a circular to all airlines operating in Indonesia to anticipate coronavirus transmission through international flights.

The circular urged the distribution of general declaration cards to quarantine staff at airports, report passengers who are suspected of being infected by coronavirus to air traffic officers, as well as distributing health alert cards to passengers from affected countries.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry announced that they have reached a deal with all airlines to disinfect their aircrafts upon arrival to Indonesia from China.

In China, the virus has now infected more than 4,000 and killed 106. Though there are concerns of human-to-human transmission, Tourism Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio yesterday said there are no plans to further restrict tourists from China yet.