Coordinating Minister for Maritime Investment and Minister of Transportation Witness the Use of the "GeNose" Covid-19 Detection Tool Made by the Nation's Children

Jakarta – The use of the Covid-19 detection gadget "GeNose" built by the nation's children was witnessed by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi at Pasar Senen Train Station in Jakarta on Saturday (23/1). At public transportation nodes such as train stations, airports, ports, and terminals, the government encourages the employment of the Covid-19 detection tool "GeNose."

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Investment promptly tested the GeNose detecting gadget during his visit by inhaling the third breath into the bag that had been provided. As a result, Covid-19 was ruled negative by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Investment. The government thanks to the GeNose team from Gajah Mada University (UGM) for their hard work in developing this technology and aiding the government with its 4 T (Tracking, Tracing, Testing, and Treatment) activities.

“Today, Coordinating Minister Luhut provided exceptional support by immediately attempting it. Minister of Transportation Budi stated, "We will encourage the usage of this instrument at public transportation nodes."

The Minister of Transportation, Budi explained, according to the direction of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment to encourage the use of the GeNose tool on public transportation, the Ministry of Transportation has coordinated with the Ministry of Health, UGM, and the Covid-19 Handling Task Force

"We have communicated with the Covid-19 Handling Task Force and will immediately follow up with a letter of approval for use at public transportation nodes. Furthermore, the Ministry of Transportation will issue a Circular Letter to transportation operators. We plan to start using it on February 5, 2021 at the train station first, then gradually at the airport," said the Minister of Transportation.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the GeNose device had received a distribution permit from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes). He said the advantages of this tool include: it can detect faster and at a relatively cheaper price with an accuracy of above 90 percent.

Coordinating Minister Luhut suggested that the plastic used in this tool can use materials that can be recycled to make it more environmentally friendly.

"We will use this in all public areas in the future, such as hotels, malls, and RT/RW communities." The equipment costs only 62 million rupiahs, and the price per person is only around 20 thousand rupiahs. If this tool is used more frequently, the cost will naturally decrease, and it will be further developed in the future to have greater accuracy. And, of course, we should be proud because this was made in Indonesia,” Coordinating Minister Luhut explained.

Also attending the event was Director-General of Railways Zulfikri, President Director of PT KAI Didiek Hartantyo, Head of Production of the GeNose C19 Consortium Prof. Eko Fajar Prasetyo, and Head of Pasar Senen Station Widhusukma Dananjaya. (LNM/RDL/LA/JD)