ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Coronavirus Fears Sparked As Chinese Tourist Tests Positive After Bali Visit

Coronavirus Fears Sparked As Chinese Tourist Tests Positive After Bali Visit

Indonesian authorities are now tracking the man's movements to see if he came into contact with anyone else.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

A Chinese man has returned home from Bali and tested positive for coronavirus, now officially called Covid-19. If the tourist had the virus while in Bali, it would be the first case of the infection in Indonesia.

The tourist reportedly flew from Wuhan (where the virus is believed to have started) to Bali on a Lion Air flight on January 22 and then back to Shanghai on January 28. He tested positive for the virus on February 5.

Pixabay

There is a possibility he could have been infected after returning to China, however it's unlikely as the virus has a longer incubation period. It's also possible he was infected before travelling to Bali, however if that's the case, there's still a chance the man was infectious while there.

Bali health authorities are now trying to track the man's movements while he was in Bali in order to ensure no one else was infected.

Bali Provincial Health Agency chief Ketut Suarjaya said: "I think there is a small possibility that he was infected by the virus before he visited Bali.

"However, we will recheck all the facts. We will follow up the information. We will trace all the places he had visited. Of course, we will raise our alert."

PA

According to 7News, two other patients have been quarantined in Bali's Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar for flu-like symptoms. Results from their tests are still pending.

The international community has been wary of Indonesia having zero reported cases despite its close proximity to China and the high level of visitors it receives.

According to the John Hopkins University coronavirus map, at the time of writing there have been a total of 1,118 deaths due to Covid-19, with 45,210 cases confirmed globally.

Researchers around the world are working hard to find a vaccine for the virus and health authorities and doing what they can to ensure no more infections take place. They're particularly concerned with cruise liner the Diamond Princess, which has seen nearly 170 people infected.

PA

Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference that the thousands of remaining passengers aboard the Diamond Princess would have to remain on the ship while testing continues.

He said: "I want to take sufficient care of the health of passengers and crew and make every effort to prevent the spread of the virus. We had them [the ones who tested positive] get off the vessel and... we are sending them to medical organisations."

Speaking in a Facebook video, British passenger David Abel explained what the situation was like onboard the ship.

He said: "We are now officially in quarantine. It appears that our quarantine is onboard the ship, that we will not be taken off to a hospital. Nobody is able to book onward flights as we have no idea when the quarantine will clear.

"The whole ship is in quarantine, we are in the middle of the bay, anchored, so nobody can get on or off this ship.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News