Indonesia to recall cigarettes from Philip Morris-owned plant

Health authorities in an Indonesian province are considering pulling cigarettes by Philip Morris-owned Sampoerna after a coronavirus cluster was identified among factory workers.

Two workers have died and 63 others tested positive at one of its factories in Indonesia's second-largest city, Surabaya.

East Java province task force official Heru Tjahjono said authorities are trying to determine how many cigarettes made at the factory are in circulation.

The cluster has raised concerns about allowing factories to operate during the pandemic.

A director of PT HM Sampoerna Tbk, Elvira Lianita, said the company has tried to prevent the coronavirus's spread since mid-March by applying health protocols and social distancing. She said the withdrawal of its cigarette products should not be necessary because the company stores all cigarettes for five days before they are distributed.-AP