Banjarmasin KKP check more than 60 foreign ships

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Banjarmasin Port Health Authority (KKP) had checked more than 60 foreign vessels entered South Kalimantan as precautionary measures to fight the spread of coronavirus.

"From those more than 60 ships, as many as 4.000 crew members were examined and the results showed no symptoms of being unhealthy," said Chief of Banjarmasin KKP Ruslan Fajar here on Sunday (March 15, 2020).

The tightening of health examination follows the outbreak of coronavirus in many countries, including Indonesia.

Ruslan stated, all ships originating from COVID-19 affected countries would not be allowed to dock and unload passengers and crews before undergoing medical tests.

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Regarding the procedures of examination, he explained, among others, it must pass the 14 days incubation period, so there is no one is confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus.

"If they have been confirmed healthy, then they allowed to go down for limited purposes with Immigration permission," he said.

He acknowledged that Indonesia at this time is tightening the entry of foreign nationals. They have to bring with them health documents from their own country if they want to go to Indonesia.

Likewise Indonesian citizens who want to travel abroad, he said, are obliged to have healthy proof to be accepted into the destination country.

Meanwhile, Banjarmasin KKP has installed thermo-scanners in all entrances to South Kalimantan, both at the airports and port, to detect the body temperature of passengers who come to prevent the coronavirus from entering.
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