According to The Jakarta Post, Indonesia's transport minister, Budi Karya Sumadi, is the 76th person in the country to be infected with Covid-19.

Transport minister infected

This was announced on March 14 evening in a press conference by Pratikno, who is state secretary in charge of administrative support for the office of president.

Budi is currrently receiving treatment at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital. His condition was reported to be improving.

Budi reportedly attended a Cabinet meeting on Mar. 11 (Wednesday).

The 63-year-old has also met the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, prior to being hospitalised to discuss future collaborations between Indonesia and the Netherlands. 

He also updated on Facebook that he had visited a few locations such as airport and terminals to ensure precautionary measures are put in place in the past week.

WHO urges Indonesia to step up measures

Earlier on Tuesday (March 10), the World Health Organisation has urged Indonesia's president Joko Widodo to raise the country's emergency response by declaring a national state of emergency.

As of March 14, Indonesia reports five deaths and 96 confirmed cases in total.

The government has also announced that all schools will be closed and examinations will be postponed from Monday onwards, for the next two weeks.

The Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan is the interim transport minister for Indonesia.

Top photo via Budi Karya Sumadi's Facebook