Delta variant ravages Indonesia; 51,952 new cases reported in 24 hours

The country's GDP has shrunk by 2 per cent

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R Indonesia on Saturday recorded 51,952 new cases of the coronavirus and 1,092 COVID-19 deaths. COVID-19 restrictions in the country were set to be lifted on July 20. The government is now contemplating whether or not to lift the restrictions. The country’s economy has been crumbling. The GDP has shrunk by more than 2 per cent as the coronavirus has hit the tourism, transportation and hospitality sectors.

The COVID-19-related restrictions include closure of shopping malls and a work-from-home order for non-essential workers, on the islands of Java, Bali and 15 other cities.

“Decreased mobility does not indicate a decrease in cases. We are evaluating ... whether further extension is needed,” Economy, Senior Minister Luhut Pandjaitan told Reuters. 

The country's minister of maritime and investment said the government will announce its decision in a matter of days.

 “From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologise to all Indonesians if it is not optimal,” Pandjaitan said, referring to the possibility of extending the lockdown.

The country’s hospitals are rapidly running out of essentials including oxygen cylinders. Hospital beds are rapidly running short too. Hospitals have, however, started taking emergency measures to expand capacity. As the Delta variant ravages the country, excavators are frantically digging burial spots. The country is being called Asia’s new epicentre of the virus by health experts.