VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Repatriation process of Indonesians who were working as crew members of the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday (1/3/2020). (Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo)

Jakarta - Some 69 Indonesian crew members of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, docked in Yokohama, Japan, over the spread of COVID-19, will soon be back to their home country.

On Sunday, Tokyo time, the Indonesian crew members who had been quarantined for more than two weeks on the ship, began the process of returning home.

After having lunch provided by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, the Indonesian nationals left the ship one by one, and had their body temperatures measured.

Those whose body temperatures are higher than the number set by the Indonesian Health Protocols were asked to return to the ship, a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.

A total of 69 Indonesian citizens aboard  the Diamond Princess cruise ship, who voluntarily participated in the repatriation process, left the ship using a bus. A  Garuda Indonesia plane was waiting to fly them back to the country.

The aircraft is due to depart from Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Sunday at 6 p.m. local time, and is expected to arrive at Kertajati Airport, West Java, around 12:30 am, Western Indonesia Time.

Furthermore, the dozens of Indonesian citizens will be taken to the port of PLTU Indramayu to go to the observation site on Sebaru Kecil Island, Thousand Islands, using sea transportation.

The Joint Team consisting of officers from the Indonesian Military Force, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, is fully supported by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese health officials during the repatriation process. (ANTARA)