Persahabatan Central General Hospital (RSUP) in East Jakarta has admitted 31 patients for close observation amid rising concerns over a possible outbreak following the first two confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Indonesia.

Read also: Suspected COVID-19 patient in South Tangerang put under surveillance

“At the moment, there are 21 patients [being monitored] and 10 under close observation [surveillance], while we await [their] results from the Health Ministry’s Health Research and Development Agency,” RSUP Persahabatan director Rita Rogaya said on Wednesday during a press conference at the hospital, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Rita said the patients under surveillance were those showing symptoms such as fever, coughing, a sore throat and difficulty breathing or other respiratory problems, and had recently come into close contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Read also: Think you know how to wash your hands? Doctors say use this method at 9 specific times

The patients under general monitoring showed lighter symptoms, such as fever, coughing and sore throats, but had no recent close contact with a confirmed case.

“We do not use the term ‘suspected’ here. The difference [between surveillance and monitoring] is only if [the patient] has had recent [and] close contact with anyone who is COVID-19 positive,” said Rita.

The 31 patients are in isolation at the Pinere building of the hospital. (gis)