Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, the country’s highest-ranked government official to test positive for COVID-19, has beaten the viral disease, his ministry confirmed.
“Budi Karya Sumadi returned home a few days ago after treatment at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital,” Transportation Ministry spokeswoman Adita Irawati said in a statement today.
Adita said that Budi Karya is now expected to self-isolate at home for 14 days as per his doctor’s instructions. His date of return to work has not been set.
Government officials announced on March 14 that Budi Karya, who has long suffered from asthma, was the country’s 76th COVID-19 case following days of rumors considering he had been absent from several work obligations. He was treated and placed in isolation at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta.
It’s not known 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.
Budi Karya attended a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace on March 11 along with numerous other high-ranking government officials, including the President’s Chief of Staff 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.
None of the politicians at that meeting tested positive for COVID-19.
Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has been serving as acting transportation minister in Budi Karya’s absence.
Indonesia’s COVID-19 caseload grew exponentially since mid-March. As of April 14, Indonesia has 4,839 confirmed cases, including 459 deaths and 426 recoveries.
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