South Sulawesi Governor HM Nurdin paid a visit to Nusantara Seaport, Parepare city, on Friday (April 3, 2020). (ANTARA Foto/Ist)

South Sulawesi Governor HM Nurdin Abdullah has ordered local authorities across the province to quarantine all visitors for 14 days to break the chain of transmission of the new coronavirus disease.

"We have all agreed to impose that policy. It must be upheld," he told journalists on Friday on the sidelines of his visit to the Nusantara Seaport in Parepare city. He was commenting on measures for halting the spread of COVID-19 in South Sulawesi Province.

Visitors would be quarantined for 14 days to ensure they are not infected by the deadly virus. They would be allowed to return to their provinces of origin after completing the quarantine, he said.

The provincial, district, and city administrations would work together to make sure the quarantine is effectively imposed in all urban and rural areas. All ports of entry to South Sulawesi would also be secured, the Governor revealed.

The provincial capital Makassar is the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in South Sulawesi. To prevent the spread of the virus, the Governor has urged outsiders to delay their plans to visit the province during the Idul Fitri "mudik" season.

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"Mudik" refers to the annual exodus of citizens to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri with their extended families and colleagues.

The Indonesian Government has decided against banning “mudik", though it has strongly appealed to citizens, especially Jakarta residents, to not return to their hometowns for Idul Fitri this year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Reporter: Nur SW, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Mulyo Sunyoto

Pewarta: Nur SW, Rahmad Nasution

Editor : Mahdani


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