Jakarta. The number of new coronavirus infections has slowed down in Jakarta in the past few days, resulting in lower hospital admissions, something the National Covid-19 Task Force has described as "good news."

Jakarta has been the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Indonesia since the first cases were announced in early March. 

"The pace of new transmissions in Jakarta has been reduced significantly. The number of new cases is flattening out," task force head Doni Monardo said in Jakarta on Monday.

"It appears that the large-scale social restrictions are working," he said.

Jakarta was the first city to officially implement semi-lockdown status by closing non-essential premises and banning gatherings of more than five people on April 10.

But as many non-essential businesses continued to operate, the capital remained a magnet to thousands of commuter workers who flocked into the capital in crowded trains and buses, prompting the city government to adopt tougher measures.

More than 540 companies in Jakarta were reprimanded and 76 of them were closed temporarily for violating the restrictions.

The capital's satellite cities followed by imposing the same restrictions around a week later.

Now in its fourth week of restrictions – known as PSBB, Jakarta has begun to see a sharp drop in daily new cases, from more than 150 to 107 on April 23.

In the past three days, daily new cases have been declining from 99 to 76 and 65 to bring the city's total cases to 3,746 by Sunday.

Doni also said the number of Covid-19 patients or those suspected of having the virus in Jakarta's referral hospitals has dropped below capacity.

A total of 7,032 patients – both those who have tested positive for Covid-19 and suspected cases – are being treated in Jakarta hospitals, which have a total capacity of 10,179 beds, he said.

"We have good news, the number of patients is declining," Doni said.

Total Cases Now More Than 9,000 Nationwide

Task Force spokesman Achmad Yurianto said the number of confirmed cases nationwide increased by 214 to a total of 9,096 on Monday, including 765 deaths.

He also said 44 more patients have recovered to bring the total number of recoveries to 1,151.

Monday's recoveries were double the number of Covid-19 patients who died on the same day.

"We have conducted specimen tests on more than 59,000 people so far," Achmad said. 

Meanwhile, the number of persons under surveillance for suspected coronavirus infection and ordered to self-isolate at home has risen by 1,159 to 210,199, he added.

Close to 20,000 patients across the country are also suspected of having contracted Covid-19 and currently under strict observation.

The pandemic has now affected 288 districts and municipalities in all 34 provinces, Achmad said.