Covid-19 Hits Eight Cities, Cases Surge to 96 with Five Deaths

The Jakarta Globe
March 14, 2020 | 10:15 pm
SHARE
Two nurses clean up their medical equipment after examining a Covid-19 patient at Dumai Hospital in Riau on Friday. The patient has recovered after being treated for three days. (Antara Photo / Aswaddy Hamid)
Two nurses clean up their medical equipment after examining a Covid-19 patient at Dumai Hospital in Riau on Friday. The patient has recovered after being treated for three days. (Antara Photo / Aswaddy Hamid)

Jakarta. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Indonesia surged to 96 from 69 a day earlier with five fatalities, the government announced on Saturday.

“The number of cases increased by 27 after we intensified contact tracing,” Achmad Yurianto, a spokesman for the government’s handling of coronavirus outbreak, told a press conference in Jakarta.

Among the fatalities is a female medical staff who has treated a Covid-19 patient, Achmad said, but he declined to elaborate.

The recovery rate remains below 10 percent, with eight patients being discharged from hospitals.

Advertisement

"They said they no longer had the illness and two more tests showed they were free from the virus," he said.

Achmad said Covid-19, the official name of the disease, has spread to eight cities including Jakarta, Bandung in West Java, Tangerang in Banten, Solo in Central Java, Bali, Manado in North Sulawesi, Yogyakarta and Pontianak in West Kalimantan.

He said the government has intensified measures to identify and trace infected persons and other people who have contacts with them to follow a directive from the World Health Organization.

"We are intensifying contact tracing because this is a crucial factor that changes our approach after the WHO declared Covid-19 as a pandemic," he said.

He said efforts to identify and trace contacts depend largely on information from the community.

WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has sent a letter to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to recommend that the Indonesian government scales up emergency response mechanisms by declaring a "national emergency".

The WHO also asked the government to provide "detailed information about the approach surveillance and testing, contact identification and contact testing for Covid-19".  

No Lockdown

The president said on Friday he has yet to consider putting affected cities in lockdown, as the government is preparing a large facility to handle Covid-19 patients on Galang Island near Batam, Riau Islands province.

"The large-scale observation facility will be completed next week. I will inspect myself," Jokowi said.

Indonesia also designated Natuna Island on the northern maritime border and Sebaru Island near Jakarta as observation and quarantine facilities for Covid-19 patients.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan announced on Saturday all schools in the capital city are put in a two-week vacation starting on Monday to contain the spread of coronavirus.

"The national exam that begins on Monday is delayed until further notice," Anies said. The decision affects around 124,000 high school students in Jakarta who are slated to take the exam.

Tags: Keywords:
SHARE

Related Articles


News Jun 4, 2025 | 9:40 am

No Need to Panic Over Recent COVID-19 Spike, Health Minister Says

Health Minister Budi Sadikin says recent COVID-19 variants in Indonesia are not deadly, urges public to stay calm and follow health protocol
News Jun 3, 2025 | 5:28 pm

Indonesia on Alert as Prabowo Responds to COVID-19 Uptick

President Prabowo summons Health Minister Budi amid rising COVID-19 cases. Public urged to stay calm and follow basic health precautions.
News Jun 1, 2025 | 12:03 pm

Indonesia Issues COVID-19 Advisory Amid New Wave in Asia

In Indonesia, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases dropped from 28 to just three over the past week.
News May 19, 2025 | 5:56 pm

Indonesia, Thailand Sign Health Pact as COVID Cases Surge in Bangkok

Indonesia and Thailand sign a health MoU in Bangkok as COVID-19 cases rise, aiming to strengthen pandemic readiness and health systems.
News May 19, 2025 | 5:45 pm

Indonesia, Thailand Sign Health Pact as COVID Cases Surge in Bangkok

Indonesia and Thailand sign a health MoU in Bangkok as COVID-19 cases rise, aiming to strengthen pandemic readiness and health systems.
News Feb 6, 2025 | 11:13 am

Argentina Joins US in Exiting WHO, Citing "Profound Differences"

Argentina's president has ordered the country to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to "profound differences".
News Jan 14, 2025 | 5:27 pm

HMPV vs. Covid-19: Key Differences in Risks, Transmission, and Management

Discover the facts about Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), its transmission, fatality risks, and how it compares to Covid-19.

The Latest


Tech 7 hours ago

Indonesia Introduces AI and Coding to 59,000 Schools Nationwide

Indonesia rolls out AI and coding as elective subjects in 59,000 schools, aiming to prepare students for the digital future.
News 9 hours ago

"I Realized I Was Alive": Survivor Speaks After Air India Dreamliner Crash

A lone survivor recounts escaping the Air India crash that killed 241 people. Investigators recover the black box as probe intensifies.
Lifestyle 9 hours ago

Dental Issues Top List in Indonesia’s Mass Health Screenings, Minister Says

Indonesia’s free health check program finds dental issues most common, ahead of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, health minister says.
Lifestyle 9 hours ago

AVC Nations Cup: Indonesia Defeats Hong Kong, Eyes Top-Five Finish

Indonesia’s women’s volleyball team beat Hong Kong 3-1 at the AVC Nations Cup in Hanoi to advance in the battle for fifth place.
News 10 hours ago

Bali, Jakarta Explore $20B Subway Collaboration to Ease Island Traffic

Bali and Jakarta officials met to discuss plans for the island’s first MRT system, with underground tracks proposed to respect local customs
COPYRIGHT © 2025 JAKARTA GLOBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED