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Darkest days ahead: Deaths surge in Indonesia as health facilities collapse
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Police officers divert traffic due to the closure of Jl. Sudirman in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java on July 3, 2021. Several major roads in the regency will be closed between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. during the emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM Darurat) imposed from July 3 to 20 to curb COVID-19 transmission. (Antara/Idhad Zakaria)
I
ndonesia is facing its darkest pandemic days ahead as local hospitals grapple with soaring cases amid shortages of ICUs and oxygen tanks.
The country posted record highs of 555 deaths and 27,233 new cases on Sunday, with Jakarta contributing over 10,000 new cases, West Java almost 4,500 and Central Java nearly 3,000. New emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM Darurat) have been in place across Java and Bali since Saturday to weather the unprecedented second wave of infections that is fueled by increased mobility around the Idul Fitri holidays and the emergence of the more contagious Delta variant.
Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan predicted daily confirmed cases would continue to increase in the next two weeks, saying as quoted by kompas.com on Saturday that “This is our critical period for the next two weeks.”
Luhut, in a press briefing on Sunday, promised to move quickly to provide more hospital beds, health equipment and oxygen for COVID-19 patients, including preparing a makeshift hospital at the haj dormitory in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta to accept 600 to 700 patients.
Read also: Indonesia expects COVID-19 cases to rise despite stricter curbs
This came after the LaporCOVID-19 community reported at least 265 people died of COVID-19 in home isolation or waiting to receive emergency care at the hospital throughout last month until July 2. The victims were spread across 10 provinces, with all six Java provinces reporting the highest number of victims.
The group noted that its report did not represent the actual conditions since a high number of cases was underreported, saying: “We are worried that this is the tip of the iceberg and must be anticipated immediately to prevent more people from dying outside of health facilities”.
