Health
Virus-wracked Indonesia hits 100,000 deaths
Indonesia’s coronavirus death toll topped 100,000 on Wednesday as the country struggles to control the spread of the Delta variant.
Southeast Asia’s biggest economy has now detected Delta in dozens of regions since it was first found in the archipelago in June.
Scores of Indonesians are dying at home, unable to access hospital care or medical oxygen supplies as health care facilities are stretched to the limit.
More than 3.5 million infections have been recorded to date though official figures are widely believed to be an underestimate.
“The deaths happened… mainly because of lateness to recognise the severity of the symptoms and to refer patients,” said COVID-19 taskforce spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi.
Indonesia reported 1,747 new deaths on Wednesday, bringing its total to 100,636.
LaporCovid, an NGO that has developed a citizen reporting platform for COVID-19 data, said more than 2,600 patients died at home between the beginning of June and 24 July.
Indonesia announced stricter restrictions on 3 July and has extended the policy twice in areas where infection numbers and hospital bed occupancy rates are high.
Offices, shopping malls and schools are closed while dining in at restaurants is limited to 20 minutes.
The curbs have started to take a toll on the country’s economy which entered a recession at the end of last year for the first time since the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
“Financially, it really affects me. I have very few customers because people don’t go to the office,” Dicky, a ride-hailing driver who like many Indonesians goes by just one name, told AFP.
The country aims to vaccinate 208 million of its 270 million citizens but the vaccination rate remains far below the government’s one-million-a-day target.
Only about eight percent of the population have been fully inoculated.
— AFP
-
Singapore6 days ago
Purported resignation message from Li Hongyi as Singpass director goes viral; GovTech yet to confirm authenticity
-
Community4 days ago
PAP MP Edward Chia: ‘Sanctions on Israel do not work’ when confronted by Holland-Bukit Timah resident
-
Singapore6 days ago
Lee Hsien Yang alleges rising repression and corruption in Singapore; government calls claims a ‘personal vendetta
-
Comments2 weeks ago
8World News anchor Zhang Haijie faces criticism for labelling Lee Hsien Yang as ‘unfilial son’
-
Politics2 weeks ago
Singapore govt accuses Lee Hsien Yang of creating ‘false urgency’ over 38 Oxley Road demolition
-
Opinion1 week ago
Where does Lee Hsien Loong stand on the future of 38 Oxley Road as the government revisits the issue?
-
Opinion2 weeks ago
Where is the iron in Lawrence Wong? Hiding from direct response to Lee Hsien Yang?
-
Politics1 week ago
Charles Yeo claims Singapore is seeking his extradition from UK; AGC remains silent