Indonesia Minister, Who Had Attended a Cabinet Meeting, Tested Positive for COVID-19

By
Shawn Ambrose
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When we hear that a friend of ours contracted the Covid-19 virus, we’d probably be a little surprised, and say “Oh no, I hope he recovers soon”.

But when we hear that a famous person like Tom Hanks has been infected, we gasp with horror and say “OH NO, IF A FAMOUS PERSON CAN GET IT, WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!”.

For some strange reason, we think that celebrities, politicians, and even famous football players won’t contract the disease because the Covid-19 virus can’t penetrate the bubble of importance around them.

But the coronavirus does not discriminate; it will infect absolutely anyone.

Indonesia Minister Tested Positive for Covid-19

Indonesian Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has tested positive for Covid-19.

He was identified as Case 76 by the health ministry, and is being treated at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.

According to The Jakarta Post, Budi attended a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. State Secretary Pratikno declined to say when Budi had been admitted to the hospital or when he had likely been infected.

The minister had been on “the front line and a very important part of containing the impact of Covid-19,” said Pratikno.

School Closures

The Indonesian Health Authorities confirmed 27 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday (14 Mar), bringing the total to 96.

Five people have died from the disease so far.

Most of the cases have been clustered in Jakarta, but cases have also been reported in cities in western and central Java, Manado on Sulawesi island and Pontianak on Borneo island, reported CNA.

As a result of the growing number of infections, Jakarta’s Governor Anies Baswedan announced earlier that the capital city will close all schools and order remote teaching for at least two weeks to curb the spread of the virus.

Baswedan urged residents to practice social distancing and avoid travelling.

“What must be done right now is to reduce interactions between residents. Social distancing measures must be taken,” Anies said, urging residents to also stay at home and not travel unless necessary.

“Children, based on data, not many of them have been infected with COVID-19, but they are carriers and they spread the virus from one adult to another,” he said in a news conference.

But Why Are So Many Politicians Contracting the Disease?

As TIME reported, one group of “notable” people appear to have been affected more than others — politicians.

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Iraj Harirchi, the head of the Iranian counter-coronavirus task force, was diagnosed on 25 Feb after downplaying the severity of the outbreak.

The French Culture Minister and a United Kingdom Health Minister also tested positive recently.

But why are so many politicians getting the disease? Well, there are several reasons, according to experts.

One is that politicians are in contact with many many people, probably more than the average person. “They are always shaking hands and always meeting people. That might explain it,” one expert said.

Politicians may also be more likely to get tested for coronavirus quickly, compared to the average citizen.

They also tend to be older than the median age, and thus likelier to be susceptible to catching the virus.

No politician in Singapore has contracted the Covid-19 virus yet, and let’s hope it stays that way, especially with the upcoming election.

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]