VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Paramedics at the Jakarta-based Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital wear medical masks. ANTARA

Indonesian Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said on Monday that two Indonesians who tested positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remained in good condition, and have not displayed symptoms, such as fever and shortness of breath.

"I have observed them, and checked their condition. They are in good condition. They do not suffer fever and shortness of breath. Nothing. They eat and communicate well," he told journalists at the Jakarta-based Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital.

The two COVID-19 patients are being treated in an isolated room at a different building within this infectious diseases hospital's complex area, he said.

According to Minister Putranto, the two Indonesians are residents of Depok City, West Java, a neighboring area of Jakarta.

The patients -- a 64-year-old mother and her 31-year-old daughter -- had contracted coronavirus from a Japanese national who had visited Indonesia and was in close contact with them.

The Japanese citizen was confirmed positive for COVID-19 infection while in Malaysia, having left Indonesia.

The Indonesian Government has been putting in place precautionary measures since the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak that first struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019.

In addition to installing thermal scanners at the country's airports and seaports, and making preparations at hospitals across the archipelago, the Indonesian Government had also repatriated several hundreds of its citizens.

On Feb 2, 238 Indonesian nationals had been airlifted from Wuhan, China, to then be quarantined in Natuna District's area in Riau Islands Province. All of them were found to be healthy and sent back to their families.

The Indonesian Government has also repatriated 188 Indonesians employed as crew members of the cruise ship World Dream liner, and 69 Indonesians employed as cabin crew members of the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The World Dream cruise ship's crew members have been sent to Sebaru Kecil Island, Jakarta's Thousand Islands, for a 14-day quarantine, while 69 others are to be brought to the same island this week.

The deadly virus outbreak, which has infected 65 countries, including Indonesia, has killed at least 3,000 people -- most of whom are in China, and infected over 88,400 people worldwide. (ANTARA)