JAKARTA, Jul 18 (NNN-ANTARA) – The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 51,952 within one day to 2,832,755, with the death toll adding by 1,092 to 72,489, the Health Ministry said yesterday.
According to the ministry, 27,903 more people were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 2,232,394.
Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, decided to extend the emergency public activity restrictions, known locally as PPKM Darurat, to Jul 31, amid the ongoing surge in COVID-19 transmissions, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, said on Friday.
The emergency restrictions initially imposed on the country’s most populated island of Java and the resort island of Bali, were set to end on Jul 20. The policy was later expanded to 15 regions outside the two islands, as surges in new COVID-19 cases were found in those regions.
Indonesia has provided self-isolating patients with medicines and vitamins for free.
Joko officially distributed 300,000 packages of free medicines and vitamins to COVID-19 sufferers with mild symptoms, and people without indications who are now undergoing self-isolation in risk areas of Java and the island of Bali, since Thursday.
The government reportedly prepared a worst-case scenario, in anticipation of a steeper climb in daily infections.– NNN-ANTARA
