Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU), Arief Budiman, informed here on Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is undergoing independent quarantine at home.
“On September 16 (2020), I did a rapid test with non-reactive results, September 17, at night, (I) did a swab test (that was) required prior to attending a meeting at the Bogor Palace on September 18, the result was positive. Another KPU member later attended the meeting," Arief Budiman said here.
He said he is asymptomatic and has been self-quarantining since early on September 18 morning.
"Early on the morning of September 18, we started self-quarantine because there were no symptoms, cough, fever, runny nose, or shortness of breath," he informed.
Then, on Friday morning, all members of his family at the KPU official residence underwent swab tests.
"Including me doing a retest. KPU has implemented WFH (work from home) policy from September 18 to 22," Budiman said.
Disinfection will be undertaken at KPU offices and residences on Saturday.
"I continue to carry out my tasks from home, online. Please pray for all of us so that we recover, hopefully, health and safety will always be with the Indonesian nation," Budiman said.
Meanwhile, commissioner of the central KPU, Evi Novida Ginting Manik, has tested positive for COVID-19 in Jakarta.
At least 63 candidates for the 2020 regional head elections (Pilkada), which will be held simultaneously in 270 regions across Indonesia on December 9 this year, have contracted COVID-19, and the figure is likely to increase.
Several officers of the KPU and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) at the central and local offices have also tested positive for COVID-19, despite the application of health protocols during the election process. (INE)
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