Indonesia reports highest daily rise in COVID-19 cases

JAKARTA

Indonesia on Friday confirmed 196 new cases of COVID-19, the biggest daily rise so far, taking the tally to 1,986.

“As many as 22 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours. So far, we have recorded 134 recoveries,” said Achmad Yurianto, the government’s spokesman for coronavirus-related matters, at a news briefing.

Meanwhile, the number of new deaths due to novel coronavirus rose by 11, bringing the death toll to 184.

“I am urging everyone to reconsider if you want to go somewhere. The safest place is your home,” he added.

A total of 32 provinces in the country have reported COVID-19 cases. Most of them -- 971 cases -- have been identified in the capital city of Jakarta.

So far, the Health Ministry has examined 7,924 specimens in 48 laboratories across the country.

In addition, around 349,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medical personnel have been distributed, and 360 referral hospitals have been prepared to treat the patients.

Indonesia has confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19 on March 2. The number of confirmed cases has been rising since then.

Earlier this week, President Joko Widodo has decided to implement the large-scale social restriction to contain the the spread of COVID-19.

He also said that his government would not prevent people from traveling to their hometowns to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. But travelers will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days, and they will also be put under observation.

The country has allocated an additional budget of 405.1 trillion rupiah ($24.7 billion) for mitigating the spread of the virus.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China in December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 181 countries and regions.

Data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University shows worldwide infections surging past 1 million (over 1,030,600), with more than 54,100 deaths. Over 218,700 people have recovered.

* Writing by Maria Elisa Hospita from Anadolu Agency's Indonesian language service