Indonesia’s Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi is reportedly on his way towards recovery from COVID-19 after testing positive for the novel coronavirus infection and raising concerns he may have spread the disease to other members of the cabinet.
Government officials on Saturday announced that Budi Karya, who has long suffered from asthma, is the country’s 76th COVID-19 case following days of rumors considering he had been absent from several work obligations. He has since been in isolation at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta.
It’s not immediately clear where Budi Karya might have been infected, though it has been reported that he was active in the evacuation of Indonesian crew members aboard the virus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The President’s Chief of Staff, Moeldoko, today gave a positive update on Budi Karya’s condition.
“There have been good developments, according to several doctors. There is no problem,” Moeldoko said following his own health examination at Gatot Subroto, as quoted by Liputan 6.
Moeldoko said that his own examination showed that he is in good health, and urged other members of the cabinet to get tested for the coronavirus.
Budi Karya attended a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace on March 11 along with numerous other high-ranking government officials, including Moeldoko, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, National Police Chief Idham Azis, and Indonesian Military commander Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.
Those who attended the meeting have reportedly submitted to COVID-19 tests and none have tested positive for the disease thus far, with results of some tests expected to arrive in the coming days.
Indonesia has seen a huge surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past week, with 21 new cases confirmed in the latest official update yesterday, bringing the total number of domestic infections to 117. The new cases consist of 19 in Jakarta and two in Central Java, according to a statement issued by the Health Ministry.
