Health workers help a COVID-19 coronavirus patient (C) at Husada Utama Hospital in Surabaya, East Java on July 8, 2021. (JUNI KRISWANTO / AFP)
- Indonesia has become the epicenter of Covid-19 in Asia, and hospitals are overcrowded, especially on the densely populated island of Java.
- The country’s reported death toll hit a record high, and the cumulative death toll currently exceeds 82,000.
- Less than 7% of Indonesia’s 270 million people have been vaccinated.
Indonesia is preparing more intensive care units after recording a few days of record Covid-19 deaths last week, while the country is waiting for whether the government will extend or relax the strict restrictions that will expire on Sunday.
Under the wave of viruses driven by delta mutations, Indonesia has become the Covid-19 center in Asia, and hospitals are flooded, especially on the densely populated island of Java.
Senior Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in a statement late on Saturday: “Due to a variety of factors, the number of deaths has increased: hospitals are overcrowded, patients have low saturation at admission, or died in self-isolation without supervision.
Luhut is responsible for overseeing the Covid response measures in Java and Bali, and he said that he will increase ICU capacity in areas with the most reported deaths.
Bali, known for its tourist beaches and temples, has been struggling to solve the problem of oxygen shortage.
Indonesia reported a record number of deaths for four consecutive days last week, with 1,566 deaths on Friday on the last day, and the cumulative death toll exceeded 82,000. Although health experts say that both the death toll and the number of cases are underestimated, the total number of infections has climbed to more than 3.1 million.
Slightly less than 7% of its population of 270 million have been vaccinated. The largest country in Southeast Asia relies mainly on vaccines produced by China Kexing Biotechnology Company.
The debate about whether to relax restrictions has caused health experts to antagonize employer groups that warn of mass layoffs unless restrictions are relaxed. They say it is too early to relax restrictions during the surge in infections.
The government is scheduled to hold a press conference later on Sunday, but the time has not yet been determined.
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