Jakarta – Berau Regent H. Muharram died on Tuesday evening after undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Pertamina Hospital in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
Muharram was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 9. On the same day, he tested positive for COVID-19 after taking a swab test, which is one of the health requirements that regional election candidates need to fulfill.
He announced the test result publicly through a video recording he posted on Sept. 9 via his Instagram account @muharram.supu in which he apologized for his own negligence in interacting with other people.
Prior to his positive COVID-19 test result, Muharram accompanied Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo during a visit to Maratua, Berau, on Sept. 1 to release 300 turtle hatchlings back into the wild.
Two days later, Edhy tested positive for COVID-19. He has since reportedly recovered from the virus.
Kanujoso Djatiwibowo General Hospital director Eddy Iskandar said that Muharram's situation improved shortly before he passed away.
"His condition had initially improved but it deteriorated quickly this evening until he stopped breathing," Eddy said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday. (dpk)