VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Spokesperson for COVID-19 of the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, conveyed that 59 travelers from India in Indonesia had tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

"During the period from December 28, 2020, to April 25, 2021, we received 59 positive cases of travelers from India," Tarmizi noted in a virtual statement to reporters on Thursday.

Of the 59 positive cases, 49 were foreign nationals from India and 10 were Indonesian citizens.

The spokesperson revealed that 26 positive cases were among those detected in travelers from India on April 10-25, 2021.

"Of the 26 cases, 24 were Indian citizens and two were Indonesian citizens," she confirmed.

According to the spokesperson, specimens were taken for 26 positive cases to be examined for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) or genome sequencing to look for a potential mutation or new variant of SARS-Cov-2 that causes COVID-19, such as B117, B1617, and B1351.

"Examination of specimens is conducted by sampling for the arrival of those during the period from December 28 to April 10, 2021. We are still awaiting specimens from the 26 positive ones and specimens that were sampled during the previous period," she stated. (Antaranews)