"Fourteen [new] cases were [reported] in Jakarta, one in West Java, one in Central Java and one in Banten,” Health Ministry Disease Control and Prevention Director General Achmad Yurianto told a press briefing on Monday.

Yurianto did not reveal further details on the cases – such as the patients' age, gender, nationality or the place of virus transmission – instead pointing the public to information on the Health Ministry's website.

As of Monday, eight people have recovered from the disease, while five have died.

At least four other Indonesian provinces, namely Yogyakarta, Bali, North Sulawesi and West Kalimantan, have recorded COVID-19 cases.

Yurianto further said in the press briefing that hospitalized COVID-19 patients would no longer be treated in separate rooms, except for patients with preexisting illnesses needing special equipment.

“Most COVID-19 patients don’t need special equipment, so they will be put in the same room, but we have to first ensure that they’re all positive [for COVID-19],” he said, citing China’s method of treating COVID-19 patients on beds in a gymnastics hall.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that the coronavirus -- which has been declared a global pandemic -- had spread to 143 countries or territories, with nine countries reporting their first cases. At least 5,735 people have died of COVID-19 worldwide, but more than 73,900 have recovered.

Some prominent figures around the world – from celebrities to high-ranking officials -- have tested positive for the virus, including Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi. (aly)

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