President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has vowed to keep balancing between economic growth and public health in an approach that has become increasingly precarious as a renewed COVID-19 surge brings Indonesia’s healthcare system to its knees.

Jokowi told members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) on Wednesday that he remained optimistic that the country could achieve its target of over 7 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter.

However, he also acknowledged that a prolonged pandemic may mute Indonesia’s economic growth prospects such as by hitting consumer confidence and retail sales.

“We must remain vigilant. Do not just talk about economics but not look at health and do not just look at health but not look at economics. Both must go hand-in-hand,” he said during the opening of Kadin’s general assembly in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

A second COVID-19 wave has struck Indonesia with daily new cases breaching record highs over consecutive days, peaking at 21,807 new cases on Wednesday, following the annual mudik (exodus) and the Delta variant’s arrival.

The wave has pushed the bed occupancy rates (BORs) of hospitals in Jakarta, West Java and Banten to over 90 percent, triggered oxygen tank supply shortages in the capital and brought Indonesia’s cumulative COVID-19 deaths to 58,491 as of Wednesday.

“The key to recovering economic affairs is how to reduce this COVID-19 and suppress it so that it disappears from the motherland,” Jokowi added.

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