Experts cast doubt on Indonesia’s claim of no coronavirus cases

It’s a top tourism destination for travellers from both China and Australia. But experts have serious doubts about its coronavirus claims.

As we speak, over 75,000 coronavirus infections have been reported in 29 countries around the world.

There have been 2005 deaths, including 2000 in mainland China, and one each in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, France and the Philippines.

Almost every country in China’s vicinity has reported at least one case — including Cambodia, whose leader dismissed concerns and said anyone who wore a face mask would be removed from his press conference; and the Philippines, whose leader was openly reluctant to close borders with mainland China.

But almost a month after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency, Indonesia is still yet to report a single case of the virus.

Statistically, this doesn’t make sense. Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world.

Indonesia is the sixth-most popular international destination for tourists from Wuhan. The top five — Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong — have all reported cases of the coronavirus.

According to figures cited by The Jakarta Post, around 98,700 passengers from Wuhan visited Indonesia between December 2018 and November 2019.

In a study published last week, Harvard University researchers estimated there must be at least five cases of the virus in Indonesia.

They came to this figure using air travel volume estimates between Indonesia and Wuhan.

Thousands of Chinese tourists were reportedly stranded in Bali following suspending all flights to and from China amid growing concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesian Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto dismissed the study, saying the country “owes it to God” that it is allegedly coronavirus-free.

“Our country believes in God. No matter the religion, as long as we uphold Pancasila, praying is of utmost importance. We work and pray. It’s an honourable thing,” he said, according to the Post.

“If there are other countries protesting, just let them. It is our nation’s right to rely on the Almighty,” he said. “Why should we be ashamed of relying on the Almighty? We should not be ashamed of praying.”

“Tell Harvard to come to Indonesia,” he added. “I will order the doors to be opened for them to see. There is nothing that is covered up.”

Indonesian authorities continue to claim no cases of the deadly virus, adding that 238 people evacuated from the country earlier this month had showed no symptoms.

The Post says it has tested 102 suspected cases, none of which have come back positive.

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said it was “very surprising” no cases had been reported in Indonesia.

“There should be a cause for some concern. There may be undetected cases,” he told ABC radio last week.

Earlier this month, it was revealed a Chinese tourist who had travelled to Bali in January was confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus on February 5, eight days after leaving the country.

NEW VIRUS CASES BEGINNING TO FALL

New virus cases in China are now falling, with 1,749 new infections and 136 new deaths announced today.

Japan also confirmed more infections of the new coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, bringing the total to 542 people among the 3,700 crew and passengers initially on board.

The updated figures on the COVID-19 illness for mainland China bring the total for cases to 74,185 and deaths to 2,004. New cases have fallen to under 2,000 daily for the past two days.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke about the efforts to control the outbreak in a phone call with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described in state media.

Separately, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the virus outbreak “is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation”.

He said that “the risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that”.

UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres said the virus outbreak “is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation”. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudhry)

China has locked down several cities in central Hubei province where the outbreak hit hardest, halting nearly all transportation and movement except for the quarantine efforts, medical care and delivery of food and basic necessities.

China also may postpone its biggest political meeting of the year, the annual congress due to start in March, to avoid having people travel to Beijing while the virus is still spreading. One of the automotive industry’s biggest events, China’s biannual auto show, was postponed, and many sports and entertainment events have been delayed or cancelled.

Many countries set up border screenings and airlines cancelled flights to and from China to prevent further spread of the disease, which has been detected in around two dozen countries and caused almost 1,000 confirmed cases outside mainland China. Five deaths have been reported outside the mainland, in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and France.

The largest number of cases outside China is the 542 on the Diamond Princess at a port near Tokyo.

— with AP