Batam quarantines 15 people who had close contact with Singapore Covid-19 patients: Report

BATAM — Batam has quarantined 15 Indonesians who were in close contact with three Singapore residents who tested positive for Covid-19 after visiting the Indonesian city, according to a local media report.

Singapore's Ministry of Health announced on Sunday (March 1) that the three — two Singaporean citizens and one Myanmar national — had tested positive for the virus after visiting Batam from Feb 21 to 23.

The Jakarta Post reported that the Riau Islands Health Agency had been notified by Singapore health authorities about the three cases.

The 15 Indonesians will be observed for one week, the agency's head Tjeptjep Yudiana reportedly said, adding that they appeared healthy and that samples taken from them had been sent for testing in Jakarta.

The three Singapore patients were identified as Cases 101, 103 and 104 in the Republic — the latest of seven people who tested positive for Covid-19 after visiting Indonesia.

Case 101 is a 61-year-old Singaporean man who is linked to Case 93 and Case 103. He was confirmed to have the virus on Saturday. Case 93 is a 38-year-old Singaporean man who tested positive for the virus on Feb 26.

Case 103, a 37-year-old Singaporean woman, is a family member of Case 93 and is linked to Case 101. According to Mr Tjeptjep, she had been in Batam to visit a property she owned.

Case 104 is a 25-year-old Myanmar woman employed as a foreign domestic worker by Case 103.

Case 103 and Case 104 were put under home quarantine three days after returning from Batam as they had been in close contact with Case 93. The two women tested positive for the virus on Sunday.

Mr Tjeptjep reportedly said the three Singapore cases had met with around 100 people in Batam.

“But for now we’ve only put 11 of them under observation at the Haj Dormitory, and four others in their homes,” said Mr Tjeptjep.

He added that the agency is also actively searching for the 26 Indonesians and 82 foreigners who were on the ferry that had brought the three Singapore residents to Batam.

Batam Port Health Office head Achmad Farchanny reportedly said that thermal scanners had not detected any signs of the virus in the three Singapore residents when they entered Batam.

On Monday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced the first confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country.

Two Indonesians had tested positive for the virus after coming into contact with an infected Japanese national, said Mr Widodo. AGENCIES