Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, his ministry confirmed today, making him the country’s third minister to contract COVID-19.
“On Sept. 17, the minister did a swab test and the result was positive [for coronavirus]. Alhamdulillah (praise God) his physical condition has been monitored well so far, there are no concerning symptoms,” Special Staff at the Religious Affairs Ministry Kevin Haikal said in a statement.
Kevin added that Fachrul is currently in isolation, and asked the public to pray for his health.
Oman Fathurahman, the ministry’s spokesman, said that Fachrul delegated his bureaucratic duties to Deputy Minister Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi, while other officials have been given instructions relevant to their posts. The minister has asked for the ministry’s programs, including the prevention of COVID-19 in various religious and religious education institutions, to run well in his absence.
Fachrul is the third Indonesian minister to have been diagnosed with COVID-19, after Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, who has since recovered, was diagnosed in mid-March, and more recently Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo.
Gerindra Party, of which Edhy is a cadre, announced last week that Edhy had initially been treated in the ICU for intensive treatment at a Jakarta hospital before making his recovery and testing negative for the virus.
